Duval County

JEA set to resume disconnections Friday

Outside JEA’s Customer Center in downtown Jacksonville, social distancing markers are on the ground.

Utility leaders said Thursday, fewer people have been lining up, calling in, and making online pay arrangements – a signal that it’s time to resume disconnections for the first time in months.

Harvey Kennerly told Action News Jax he feels blessed just to be able to pay bills during the pandemic.

“Some people cannot go to work, some people are working from home and some are worse than other people,” he said.

According to JEA, when the utility halted disconnections in March, there were 2,000 delinquent accounts.

As of Thursday, the number had grown to 22,000.

Action News Jax first reported about the City of Jacksonville’s COVID-19 utility relief program in June.

On Thursday, 10,000 of the $200 one-time payment cards were on their way to customers.

A JEA spokesperson said that left 12,000 in danger of disconnection.

She added that service cutoffs were set to resume Friday, beginning with those who were delinquent at the start of the pandemic.

The spokesperson explained that disconnections would occur between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., and not all happen at once.

Kennerly said he knows these are tough times for many local families.

“When I was coming up, I was taught that you think you’re doing bad there’s always someone worse than you. Everyone’s not in the same situation,” Kennerly said.

To make pay arrangements and avoid service disconnection, the following methods are available:

The Jacksonville Jewish family and Community Services is also helping pay utility bills and mortgages. They’ve helped 1,000 people with more than $600,000 in bills, so far and have also provided food.

If you need help or would like to donate, go to JFCSJAX.org.