Florida Senate - 2011                                    SB 1572
       
       
       
       By Senator Siplin
       
       
       
       
       19-00764B-11                                          20111572__
    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 in which the senior citizen or low-income family
    9         resides; prohibiting any utility from terminating a
   10         senior citizen’s or low-income family’s gas or
   11         electric service for nonpayment on any day preceding a
   12         holiday or weekend during which the National Weather
   13         Service forecasts extreme temperatures in the area in
   14         which the senior citizen or low-income family resides;
   15         providing an effective date.
   16  
   17  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   18  
   19         Section 1. (1) A utility may not terminate a senior
   20  citizen’s or low-income family’s gas or electric service, if the
   21  service is the only source by which a space is cooled or heated,
   22  for nonpayment of service on any day, or on the following 2
   23  calendar days, during which the National Weather Service
   24  forecasts that the temperature is to reach 32° Fahrenheit or
   25  below or 95° Fahrenheit or above in the area in which the senior
   26  citizen or low-income family resides.
   27         (2) A utility may not terminate a senior citizen’s or low
   28  income family’s gas or electric service, if the service is the
   29  only source by which a space is cooled or heated, for nonpayment
   30  of service on any day preceding a holiday or weekend during
   31  which the National Weather Service forecasts that the
   32  temperature is to reach 32° Fahrenheit or below or 95°
   33  Fahrenheit or above in the area in which the senior citizen or
   34  low-income family resides during the holiday or weekend.
   35         Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.