|
State of Florida
|
Public Service Commission Capital Circle Office Center ● 2540 Shumard
Oak Boulevard -M-E-M-O-R-A-N-D-U-M- |
||
|
DATE: |
|||
|
TO: |
Office of Commission Clerk (Teitzman) |
||
|
FROM: |
Division of Economics (Coston) Office of the General Counsel (Crawford) |
||
|
RE: |
|||
|
AGENDA: |
05/05/20 – Regular Agenda – Tariff Filing – Interested Persons May Participate |
||
|
COMMISSIONERS ASSIGNED: |
|||
|
PREHEARING OFFICER: |
|||
|
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: |
|||
On April 9, 2020,
Sebring Gas Systems, Inc. (Sebring or utility) petitioned for approval of an
emergency modification to its tariff sheet No. 48 which addresses delinquent
bills and late payment charges. On March 1, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis
declared a public health emergency in Florida as a result of the outbreak of
the COVID-19 coronavirus and on March 9, 2020, the Governor declared a state of
emergency and implemented the state’s Emergency Management Plan. In addition,
the Governor has issued additional Executive Orders to address the current
emergency to include a statewide “Safer at Home” requirement. As a result of
this emergency, the utility recognizes the economic impact to some residential
and commercial customers. Many businesses are struggling financially and have instituted
lay-offs or limited their employees’ hours.
Sebring states
that during this public emergency, it does not plan to disconnect service to
customers for non-payment, as allowed under its current tariff. However, Sebring’s
current tariff does not provide the utility the ability to suspend late payment
charges during this, or similar, emergency
declarations. The proposed tariff modification would allow the utility
flexibility to waive late payment charges during emergency situations, such as
natural disasters and the current public health emergency.
Sebring’s revised
tariff sheet is Attachment 1 to this recommendation. The Commission has
jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to Sections 366.04, 366.05, 366.06,
Florida Statutes.
