April 27, 2020
It is truly a privilege to be United Way of Charlotte County’s incoming board president. As I embark on this journey, I am filled with gratitude for United Way, an organization that is so passionate about serving its community well. And, I am proud to represent FPL, a company that is truly dedicated to giving back to our community. Now, more than ever, we are all committed to weathering the storm together. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) remains committed to assisting the most vulnerable in our communities as we all work through this unsettling and difficult time together.
Doing the right thing is a core value for FPL, which is why we will always do the right thing for our customers and our communities. Through the NextEra Energy Foundation, we are gifting United Way of Charlotte County matching funds from $25-$100 per donor, up to $5,000, for the 2020 Giving Challenge, which is April 28th - 29th noon to noon. The funds suppport ALICE who is and will be continuing to struggle to meet their basic needs.
We’re also donating funds to United Way chapters and affiliated community partners across our service area. The emergency funds continue to be distributed to organizations working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis to provide critical support to the most vulnerable members of our communities. The funds include donations from NextEra Energy companies and their employees as part of our long-standing commitment for supporting communities during crises.
FPL also recently announced plans to fast-track savings to customers amid the ongoing pandemic. Subject to Florida Public Service Commission approval, beginning May 1, FPL plans to issue a one-time decrease of nearly 25% for the typical residential customer bill as a result of lower fuel costs. Business customers will also see a significant one-time decrease in May that will vary by rate class.
In addition to accelerated savings, we’re sharing energy-saving tips that can be followed easily, and encouraging customers to use free tools, such as the FPL Mobile App and FPL Energy Analyzer, to help monitor their energy use, budget and manage energy costs. For more tips to save, visit: FPL.com/EnergySavings.
We realize customers may be experiencing hardship and we have resources available to help. To the extent they are available, we will continue to connect customers with resources from federal, state and local authorities. Customers can learn more at FPL.com/Help.
Equally as important, we’re doing everything we can to protect the health and safety of employees and the community as we continue delivering affordable, reliable service to our customers and powering essential operations. We ask our customers to make their safety and the safety of others a priority, too, by practicing social distancing with our crews.
And our commitment to the communities we serve also extends to the youngest of minds. As schools transitioned to distance learning, FPL introduced two exciting new programs. Manatee Lagoon – an FPL Eco-Discovery CenterⓇ launched a virtual learning series to expand educational opportunities and keep students engaged as schools transitioned to distance learning.
To help teachers provide students with a captivating learning experience, in partnership with Ohana Solutions, a third-party content curator, FPL also introduced a new virtual energy curriculum for grades 4, 5 and 6, that covers energy standards in science, English language arts and math. The free, open source online curriculum is designed to ensure that students have a deeper understanding of the importance of energy and all of its forms and is available to any interested educator or school district, anywhere.
We all have a role in helping make our communities stronger as we work through this crisis together. I’m confident that, together with partners like United Way of Charlotte County, we will become even stronger from our current challenges. #BeTheOne Be a hero to make a difference in the life of ALICE.
Charlotte R. Miller
FPL Area Manager, SW Florida
External Affairs