Florida Senate - 2013                                     SB 508
       
       
       
       By Senator Thompson
       
       
       
       
       12-00655A-13                                           2013508__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the termination of gas or electric
    3         service; prohibiting any utility from terminating a
    4         senior citizen’s or low-income family’s gas or
    5         electric service for nonpayment on any day, or on the
    6         following 2 calendar days, during which the National
    7         Weather Service forecasts extreme temperatures in the
    8         area of the utility in which the senior citizen or
    9         low-income family resides; prohibiting any utility
   10         from terminating a senior citizen’s or low-income
   11         family’s gas or electric service for nonpayment on any
   12         day preceding a holiday or weekend during which the
   13         National Weather Service forecasts extreme
   14         temperatures in the area of the utility in which the
   15         senior citizen or low-income family resides; providing
   16         an effective date.
   17  
   18  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   19  
   20         Section 1. (1) A utility may not terminate a senior
   21  citizen’s or low-income family’s gas or electric service, if the
   22  service is the only source by which the residence is cooled or
   23  heated, for nonpayment of service on any day, or on the
   24  following 2 calendar days, during which the National Weather
   25  Service forecasts that the temperature is to reach 40°
   26  Fahrenheit or below or 90° Fahrenheit or above in the area of
   27  the utility in which the residence of the senior citizen or low
   28  income family is located.
   29         (2) A utility may not terminate a senior citizen’s or low
   30  income family’s gas or electric service, if the service is the
   31  only source by which the residence is cooled or heated, for
   32  nonpayment of service on any day immediately preceding a holiday
   33  or weekend during which the National Weather Service forecasts
   34  that the temperature is to reach 40° Fahrenheit or below or 90°
   35  Fahrenheit or above in the area of the utility in which the
   36  residence of the senior citizen or low-income family is located.
   37         Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.