Florida Power and Light (FPL) has many programs offering a variety of assistance and information services for the customer in need. Serious financial problems resulting from hardships such as loss of a job, illness or an accident can strike a family or individual at any time and make it very difficult or impossible for a family to pay bills. Through a partnership between FPL and community agencies, eligible customers can receive energy assistance funding.

FPL's ASSIST Program encompasses a vast network of social service organizations located throughout their service territory. To obtain a referral for energy assistance, customers can call the Customer Service phone number located at the bottom of their FPL bill. An FPL Customer Care Representative can provide the information and referral phone number to the appropriate local social service organizations that may be able to provide assistance.

Some of the energy assistance programs that are offered in FPL's service area include:

• LIHEAP - Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
• EHEAEP - Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program
• FEMA - EFSP - Federal Emergency Management Agency - Emergency Food and Shelter Program (individual assistance)
• FPL Care To Share - FPL's sponsored emergency assistance fund
• Various local charitable programs

The FPL Care To Share Program® is sponsored by FPL and is designed to provide emergency assistance funds to customers who are in a crisis situation and unable to pay their electric bill.

FPL's Care to Share Bear

This FPL Care To Share Fund is made up of customer and FPL corporate contributions that help pay home-energy bills for households experiencing a crisis. In Broward County, the Broward County Community Action Agency administers Care to Share. All donations go directly to benefit customers in crisis.

FPL's Friendly Reminder provides you with a way to guard against disconnection of your electric service if you are away from your home unexpectedly or cannot be reached because of illness.

The FPL Friendly Reminder allows you to authorize FPL to send a copy of any delinquent notice to a person you designate—relative, friend, caregiver, neighbor, clergyman, social worker or trustee. This doesn't place any obligation on that person to pay the bill, just to assist you by reminding you of the final notice.

If your main source of income is provided through Social Security retirement benefits, FPL's 62Plus Payment Plan can make paying your electric bill a little easier.

The FPL 62Plus Payment Plan matches your bill due date to the arrival of your monthly benefit check. The program is available to all customers, regardless of age, who rely on fixed income payments, such as:

• Social Security
• Disability
• Government Payments

It allows one full month to pay after the bill is issued, regardless of when the benefit check is received. This can help you manage your monthly budget, especially if your electric bill is due at some time other than when your monthly benefit check arrives.

With FPL's Budget Billing, your monthly electric payment is based on your average annual usage of electricity, not what you use in one billing month.

Although you still pay for all the electricity you use, Budget Billing can help you manage your money more efficiently because you can spread seasonal consumption costs over many months. You will also have a better idea of what you owe before your bill arrives.

FPL is acutely aware of the special needs and requirements of their handicapped customers. If you are hearing or speech-impaired, and have access to TTY-TDD Equipment, FPL has a 24/7 service available through their toll-free number: 1.800.432.6554.

Remember, you must use a teletype keyboard machine to reach FPL at this number.