Tampa Electric Donates $2 Million to Customer Support Program
During the past four years, Tampa Electric has donated $4.4 million to support customers in need of financial assistance throughout its West-Central Florida service territory.
In September, Tampa Electric announced it would contribute $2 million to support customers in need of financial assistance throughout its West-Central Florida service territory.
The funds will be distributed through the Share program, administered locally by Metropolitan Ministries, the Salvation Army, and the Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg to provide direct support for customers struggling to pay their bills.
With this contribution, Tampa Electric will have donated $4.4 million to the Share program during the past four years. The program is funded by donations from Tampa Electric shareholders, employees, customers, and community partners and does not impact customer bills.
“We recognize that many of our most vulnerable customers are feeling especially stretched right now,” Tampa Electric President and CEO Archie Collins said in a statement. “As a company deeply rooted in this community, we believe it’s our responsibility to support our neighbors in times of need.”
Additionally, Tampa Electric recommends several tips and tricks to help customers adjust their energy usage and avoid unexpected hikes to their monthly bills. Closely monitoring the use of air conditioning, ceiling fans, and other household appliances could all help mitigate monthly energy consumption.
Customer affordability has long been a priority for investor-owned electric companies, particularly during summer months when air conditioning and energy use tend to spike, putting upward pressure on energy bills.
As artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers, increased industrialization and the reshoring of manufacturing activity, and the broader electrification of the economy continue to push electricity demand higher, EEI member companies are proactively developing customer support programs and raising awareness of existing federal, state, and company-specific resources to help ensure customers who need financial assistance are able to access it.
Visit EEI’s Energy Affordability hub for more information about what local resources may be available in your community, including eligibility for the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and for EEI’s guide to more than 100 ways to improve your electric bill, including energy efficiency updates and actions that you can take to help manage your bill.
EEI member companies are launching new customer support programs and raising awareness of existing local, state, and federal resources.