Tallahassee Utilities has suspended services for hundreds of homes with unpaid power bills. James Barnes, the city’s chief customer officer, declined to give specifics, but says so far “several hundred” accounts have been suspended. The city gave customers a heads up back in February that a shut-off moratorium that had been in place for most of the coronavirus pandemic would soon come to an end. Barnes says the city isn’t cutting power for anyone who has sought help.
“Anyone that has gone and seeked assistance from any of our social partners or Leon County, and I understand that to be approximately 3,500 with Leon County, we will not be suspending their services while they are waiting for approval process," said Barnes.
Back in February unpaid utility bills totaled around 9 million dollars. Barnes says with efforts made to reach out to account holders, and point them in the direction of resources to pay those bills down, that number has decreased significantly.
