JEA headquarters is at 225 N. Pearl St. | Jacksonville Daily Record
Published on November 5, 2025 at 3:35 pm
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JEA is suspending late fees and easing other financial relief criteria in response to the federal government shutdown.
Jacksonville’s public electric, water and wastewater utility said in a news release that it will not apply late fees to customers’ bills beginning Thursday until further notice.
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Utility officials also announced it would be easing criteria for customers to qualify for payment extensions and payment arrangements. According to the news release, the move will allow more customers to take additional time to pay or arrange to pay their balance over a series of monthly installments.
JEA Public Information Officer Karen McAllister tells Jacksonville Today that the utility is changing the maximum number of monthly installments for payment from nine to 12. She says this will allow a customer to lower the dollar amount of their monthly installment by spreading their balance over more months.
Currently, the utility requires a customer to have active service for at least 90 days before approving a payment arrangement. McAllister says JEA is removing that requirement. It also will waive some stipulations regarding previous broken pay extensions or returned payments.
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“We know many Jacksonville families are facing financial hardship, and JEA is working to help ease the burden for our customers in need,” JEA Managing Director and CEO Vickie Cavey said in the release.
On Wednesday, the federal government shutdown hit the 36-day mark, making it the longest in U.S. history.
According to a report from NPR, more than 1 million federal workers are working without paychecks and roughly 600,000 have been furloughed. It’s created air traffic control shortages that have led to delays at airports; reduced operations at national parks; and federal food and nutrition benefits such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program stopped last weekend.
That has prompted some local governments, businesses and organizations like farmers markets to try to fill in those gaps.
Effects at JEA
The Associated Press reported Sunday that some states are warning that funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps low-income households pay to heat and cool their homes, is being delayed.
But McAllister tells Jacksonville Today that the government shutdown has not affected the business and operations of Jacksonville’s utility.
JEA says it will continue monitoring and assessing issues with the shutdown and the effects on customers. It also will keep assisting customers in need through payment solutions and collaboration with nonprofit community partners and agencies, the release says.
JEA customers can request assistance through jea.com/assistance or 904-665-6000.
