Tallahassee utility customers stunned by high electric bills after rare Florida snowfall

The once-in-a-lifetime winter storm dazzled north Florida last month, but the awestruck wonder thawed almost as quickly as the snow did when Tallahassee residents received their monthly electric bill.

Unaccustomed to the cold, many had their heaters working double time last month. Now, it’s time to pay up.

“During that week, we saw very, very different temperatures, abnormally cold temperatures,” City Manager Reese Goad said during the city’s latest budget hearing. “When we see that, usage goes up.”

Residents bantered back and forth on social media, mostly shocked about the steep increase. Many said their bills went up by $100 to $200. Some said theirs even doubled. “I about fell out of my chair when I got mine,” one person said.

“Mine is abnormally high every single month lol,” another person said.

Goad told the Tallahassee Democrat that the city saw around a 20% increase in usage last month due to the persistent, sub-freezing temperatures. Tallahassee utilities almost hit a “new all-time peak demand,” he said, and would have done so had schools been in session.

But even with the extreme weather, sales have remained fairly flat, Goad said. During the budget hearing, he told city commissioners that city staff is sensitive to the high bills and that they are working with customers if they need help.

The city is creating payment plans with customers to soften the blow, and it works out, Goad said, because as winter turns into spring, usage starts to go back down, as will the bills.

“Good news is, the weather’s moderated, which goes back the other direction and overall consumption will start to balance,” he said.

But even with the warmer weather and some relief in sight, people are still in sticker shock. “My bill has never been this high ever,” one person said.

Local government watchdog reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee snow storm’s bite lingers as customers get utility bills