Local

Comparing JEA rates during uncertainty of sale

Action News Jax is looking into how a sale of JEA would affect your bill.

Customers like Tom Minette have been watching the situation closely.

“I already have a really big bill, because I have a big old house in Springfield and there’s a lot of utilities to keep that hot or cold,” Minette said.

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“[If JEA sold], I think the rates would go up, and I think you wouldn’t have as much input into the company,” he added.

Thursday, we compared JEA's rates to some of the private companies that service other major Florida cities such as Orlando, Tampa and Miami.

According to the Florida Municipal Electric Association, the average JEA household paid about $108.50 in December 2017.
Tampa Electric-- a private company-- was about the same, at $108.18.

Florida Power and Light, which services several areas in the state-- including Miami-- was actually cheaper by a couple dollars at $105.99.

But when one looks at Duke Energy, which services Orlando and Tampa, the average bill was $120.97.

Gulf Power, which takes care of northwest Florida, averaged $142.24.