FMEA COVID-19 Resource Center
FMEA, in coordination with state and federal industry and government partners, continues to monitor the evolving situation surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We have also made the decision to cancel all FMEA in-person events and meetings through the end of May, including the Florida Public Power Hurricane Forum, the Florida Municipal Broadband Alliance (FMBA) meeting, and the Administrative Professionals, Energy Auditors and GIS roundtables.
In an effort to provide our members with up-to-date and critical information, we have created this website to serve as a COVID-19 Resource Center. If you have any questions, changes to your utility information, or need additional information, please email nalbers@publicpower.com.
COVID-19 Resource Center
State Resources
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
Florida Department of Health Coronavirus Webpage
Florida Department of Health COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard
Florida Division of Emergency Management COVID-19 Landing Page
Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program
Governor Ron DeSantis Activates Emergency Bridge Loan Program for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 (March 16, 2020)
Activated March 16, 2020 by Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program is currently available to small business owners located in all Florida counties statewide that experienced economic damage as a result of COVID-19. The application period opens March 17, 2020 and runs through May 8, 2020.
Guidance on Access to Restoration Areas During Emergency Recovery Operations
Executive Orders
Governor DeSantis Executive Order 20-88 - FRS/DROP Program employees (March 30, 2020)
Governor DeSantis Executive Order 20-83 - Protective Measures for Vulnerable Populations, Gatherings, and Remote Work (March 24, 2020)
Governor DeSantis Executive Order 20-82 - Isolation of Individuals Traveling to Florida from New York Tri-State Area (CT, NJ, NY) (March 24, 2020)
Governor DeSantis Executive Order 20-80 - Airport Screening and Isolation (March 23, 2020)
Governor DeSantis Executive Order 20-72 - Non-essential Elective Medical Procedures (March 20, 2020)
Governor DeSantis Executive Order 20-71 - Alcohol Sales, Restaurants, and Gyms (March 20, 2020)
Governor DeSantis Executive Order 20-70 - Broward and Palm Beach County Closures (March 20, 2020)
Governor DeSantis Executive Order 20-69 - Local Government Public Meetings during COVID-19 (March 20, 2020)
Governor Ron DeSantis Executive Order 20-68 - Bars, Pubs, Nightclubs, Beaches, Restaurants (March 17, 2020)
Governor DeSantis Executive Order 20-52 - COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (March 9, 2020)
Governor DeSantis Executive Order 20-51 - Establishing COVID-19 Response Protocol and Declaring Public Health Emergency (March 1, 2020)
Other State Resources
Associated Industries of Florida COVID-19 Resources for Business
Florida Chamber of Commerce COVID-19 Resource Center
Florida League of Cities Coronavirus Resources
National Resources
Baker Donelson Guidance Document: Nationwide Emergency Declaration – Access to Disaster Relief Fund
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information
Defending Against COVID-19 Cyber Scams
President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America – 15 Days to Slow the Spread via Whitehouse.gov
Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Assistance
Energy Sector Resources
American Public Power Association Information about COVID-19
Electric Subsector Coordinating Council Pandemic Mutual Assistance Checklist
EPRI COVID Impacts on Load and Preparations from Italy
FERC, NERC Industry Guidance to Ensure Grid Reliability Amid Potential Coronavirus Impacts
National Governor’s Association Governor Guidance on the Energy Sector During COVID-19 Response (March 25, 2020)
Summary of Safety Information on Work Policies and Procedures (APPA, March 30, 2020)
U.S. Department of Energy Coronavirus Hub
U.S. Department of Energy and Homeland Security on Classification of Critical Utility Workers
U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Identification of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers during COVID-19 Response (March 28, 2020)
Other National Resources
FEMA Guidance Fact Sheet: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Eligible Emergency Protective Measures
FEMA Guidance Fact Sheet: Public Assistance: Non-Congregate Sheltering Delegation of Authority
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Coronavirus Response Toolkit
Employment and Labor Resources
U.S. Department of Labor Coronavirus Resources
Families First and Coronavirus Response Act
U.S. Department of Labor FFCRA Guidance Documents News Release
U.S. Department of Labor FFCRA Fact Sheet for Employees
U.S. Department of Labor FFCRA Fact Sheet for Employers
U.S. Department of Labor FFCRA Questions and Answers
Employee Rights: Paid Sick Leave & Expanded FMLA under FFCRA Poster
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Short Time Compensation Program for Employers
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Reemployment Assistance
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Temporary Layoff Assistance
Additional Resources
Florida Department of Health COVID-19 General Prevention
Keeping Workplaces, Homes, Schools, or Commercial Establishments Safe
The New York Power Authority (NYPA) COVID-19 Master Assignment Tracker
The New York Power Authority (NYPA) has graciously shared their COVID-19 Master Assignment Tracker. This tracker is used by NYPA’s Incident Management Team to capture, assign and track tasks associated with their response to the pandemic. Please feel free to use this as a template for your response.
FMEA Member Pages and Policies and Information Related to COVID-19
- Service disconnects and late payments have been suspended through April.
- COVID-19 Updates
Utility disconnects for non-payment are suspended for a period of thirty (30) days (effective March 20).
- Service disconnects and late fees have been suspended through April.
- Temporary Suspension of Penalties and Disconnects for Non Payment
The City has voluntarily implemented a suspension on late penalties and service disconnections for non-payment, effective immediately. This suspension will apply to both residential and commercial customers.
- The City of Clewiston will work with customers experiencing financial hardships as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we encourage you to stay current with your payments as much as possible.
- COVID-19 Updates
Utility Late fees and service disconnects have been suspended.
Fort Pierce Utilities Authority
- Coronavirus Information
FPUA has decided to suspend service disconnections beginning Wednesday, March 18 and continuing until further notice.
Gainesville Regional Utilities
- GRU Suspends Service Disconnects (March 13, 2020)
- The City of Green Cove Springs has suspended utility disconnections on past-due accounts until April 30, 2020.
- Coronavirus page
The City of Homestead has temporarily suspended service disconnections until further notice.
Beaches Energy Services (Jacksonville Beach)
- COVID-19 page
We understand that many customers may be facing unexpected financial hardship. To help, we have suspended all disconnections for nonpayment & will waive late fees for both homes and businesses for the time being. We encourage you to stay as current as you can with your payments.
- Coronavirus page
Until further notice, JEA will not disconnect utility services — water or electric — due to late payments.
Keys Energy Services (Key West)
- Keys Energy Services has suspended disconnects until further notice.
- Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
KUA has temporarily suspended service disconnections until March 31 and will reevaluate the policy and time-frame as the situation develops. https://kua.com/news/kua-halts-disconnections-during-coronavirus/
- Coronavirus Information
- The City of Lake Worth Beach is suspending utility disconnections through April 30
- Coronavirus page
As your public power company, we are here to support you during this challenging and uncertain time. Effective immediately, we have temporarily suspended service disconnects for non-payment until further notice.
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) page
The City will suspend utility cut-offs and late fees until further notice. This applies to all residential and commercial accounts.
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Information
The City of Mount Dora has suspended disconnections due to non-payment until further notice.
Utilities Commission of New Smyrna Beach
- COVID-19 page
UCNSB is suspending disconnects for non-payment until May 1.
- COVID-19 page
Utility cutoffs for all essential utility services to include water, sewer and electricity will be postponed. However, the city encourages regular payment for customers to stay current with their account when normal operations continue.
- As of March 16, Ocala Electric Utility has temporarily suspended service disconnections for the next 30 days and will reevaluate the policy and time frame as the situation develops.
Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC)
- Coronavirus Monitoring page
OUC has suspended disconnections due to non-payment until further notice. (https://www.ouc.com/about-ouc/news/2020/03/13/service-disconnections-waived - Update on OUC’S COVID-19 Response (March 26)
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Utility cutoffs for non-payment will be postponed. However, the city encourages regular payment for customers to stay current with their account.
City of St. Cloud (operated by OUC)
- Coronavirus Monitoring page
The City of St. Cloud will temporarily suspend utility service disconnections through March 31.
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The City of Starke discontinued shut-offs for non-payment of utilities during the duration of the emergency.
- COVID-19 page
The disconnection of utility services for non-payment including electric and water will halt for 60 days as of March 12. - Utility Relief Program
- COVID-19 page
The City of Winter Park has suspended its disconnection for nonpayment policy until further notice.
*Disconnect policies as reported by utility. Contact utility directly for most up-to-date information.