JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – JEA is eyeing a potential rate increase that could affect thousands of households in Northeast Florida, and many residents are frustrated and left to wonder what’s the cause.
The utility company will hold a workshop on Tuesday to propose an increase to electric, water and wastewater rates in fiscal years 2025 and 2026.
FYI: JEA is proposing a rate increase for electricity, water and sewer. Here’s how much
The electric rate would increase by around 3.6% for 1,000 kilowatts. That’s about $5 more. In 2026, the rate would increase by 5.4%, equivalent to a $7 increase.
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For water and sewer, the company is proposing a 6% rate revenue adjustment for 2025 and a 4.2% rate revenue for 2026.
A ¾ inch meter shows a .46 cent change in 2025 and a $1.76 change in 2026.
The proposed changes would take effect in April 2025.
News4JAX reached out to JEA to learn more about the increase and received this response:
“As a municipal utility, JEA keeps all customers in mind when making decisions, and we manage increasing costs the best we can.
The FY25 and FY26 electric rate increases are predominantly attributed to obligations to Plant Vogtle, which is providing clean nuclear energy to JEA customers; and costs of capital projects that we’re investing in to support our facilities and customer demands for the long-term.
Water & sewer rates have not increased since 2012, and we need to keep up with the increasing costs of operating our systems and rising inflationary costs.”
JEA spokesperson
Plant Vogtle is a nuclear power plant in Georiga that supplies some energy to JEA.
LaKisha Marco was concerned about potential rate increases with the current state of the economy.
“It’s just hard for people to try and make ends meet,” Marco said. “And when you’re looking at your electricity and your water bill, your utilities, you don’t want to have to try and decide if you’re going to pay your utilities or buy food.”
Cydni McKnight spoke with News4JAX outside the Balis Community Center.
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“It’s not exactly fun to have a rate increase on anything, groceries, you know, JEA, whatever gas, whatever you’re paying for, it’s no fun to pay more,” McKnight said.
Kim Earnhardt said it felt like JEA increased rates “not too long ago.”
“Right now, people can barely afford to live. So, I just don’t think it’s a good idea. I don’t know how it would benefit anyone but JEA and as I feel right now with what’s going on with their past leadership, they’re in enough trouble, and they need to just be quiet for a little bit,” Earnhardt said.
The community is welcome to attend the board workshop on Tuesday. The meeting is at JEA’s headquarters on Pearl Street at 9 a.m.
How would the potential increase affect your pockets? Let us know in the form below.
Click here to read the full document with JEA’s electric, water and sewer rate recommendations.