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Seniors in the Land O' Lakes, Odessa and Lutz area who received state energy assistance will get a $200 credit on their Florida Power & Light bill.

FPL announced Wednesday that customers who got help through the Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program, known as EHEAP, within the past 24 months qualify for a one-time $200 bill credit. The credit comes through FPL's new Saving Steps program, which pairs the payment with energy-saving education, WFLA first reported.

Eligible seniors don't need to apply

"Eligible senior customers don't have to do anything at this point to receive the credit," FPL spokeswoman Francine Freitas told The Palm Beach Post. She said EHEAP's state requirements are stricter than the United Way ALICE criteria FPL uses for Saving Steps, so those seniors already qualify. ALICE stands for asset limited, income constrained, employed.

EHEAP, administered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, assists low-income households with at least one person 60 or older during a home energy emergency. Residents with questions about EHEAP can email [email protected].

Dawn Nichols, FPL's vice president of customer service, said the program provides immediate bill relief along with steps customers can take to reduce energy use over time.

No deadline has been announced.

Who else can apply

The credit targets EHEAP recipients, but FPL Saving Steps is open to a broader group. Working families and other households that may not qualify for government assistance can check eligibility at FPL.com/Assistance.

Other ways to lower your FPL bill

FPL's Assistance Center also lists these options:

  • Payment Extension, for extra time to pay.
  • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, federal aid for income-qualified customers.
  • FPL Care To Share, for emergency bill-payment help or qualified electrical repairs.
  • Budget Billing, to smooth out seasonal swings in bills.

FPL On Call, a separate program, gives customers bill credits of more than $90 a year for briefly pausing certain appliances during peak demand. FPL serves more than 6 million customer accounts across Florida.

Seniors who want to check their eligibility or explore other assistance can visit FPL.com/Assistance.