Utility Relief Program

The Utility Relief Program provides City customers facing financial hardships with an option to defer payment of current monthly bill for water, sewer, electric and natural gas and other utility charges until this fall. Participants in the Utility Relief Program can expect the carryover to be billed in installments and clearly identified as a separate line item on their future bills beginning in September 2020 through March 2021. Participating customers will also receive a reminder notice approximately two weeks prior to receiving their statement. The City will work with customers who participate on an individual basis. Additional resources for Tallahassee businesses and their employees who are experiencing hardships during this crisis can be found online at oevforbusiness.org.

Cost: Free to participate

Who May Participate: City of Tallahassee Utilities customers (residential and commercial) who can provide documentation of hardship (loss of revenue, reduced income or unemployment) due to COVID-19 during the following active program months (utility bills issued between March 12, 2020 and May 12, 2020).

How to Get Started: Complete the online form below.

Utility Relief Program Request Form

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to provide any documentation for my situation?
Yes. In order to qualify for this program, customers must provide documentation for loss of revenue, reduced income or unemployment.

Can you give examples of documentation?
Filing for unemployment or re-employment assistance, city, state or federal COVID-19 relief. Letter from employer that states you have reduced hours or were laid off. Other documents that shows you’ve had direct financial impact through the COVID-19 crisis.

My current bill also has past due charges; will the deferment of one bill apply to my past due amount or just my current charges?
The deferment is only applicable to current charges on bill statements dated between 03/12/2020 and 05/12/2020. 

I am the account holder, but my husband (spouse) is now unemployed, can I participate in this program?
Yes. Documentation can be provided for any member of the household who was been financially impacted by this COVID-19 crisis.

Do I have to take care of any NSF (Insufficient Funds, returned checks) or can I include this NSF amount in my deferment amount?
Yes, you would have to take care of (pay) any NSF amounts before participating in the Relief Program. After the NSF item has been paid, the customer can then participate in the Utility Relief Program whereby deferring one bill.

How will the deferred amount appear on my bills starting in September?
The deferred amount will appear as a separate line item on your bill as a ‘Utility Relief Pay Arrangement’.