The City of Tampa Utilities section will resume normal collections activity on November 1, 2020. Normal collections activity had been suspended prior to COVID-19 due to a recent Customer Information System conversion. That suspension was extended after the COVID-19 outbreak in March of this year. With the gradual resumption of economic recovery in our region, collections activity will now resume.
As a provider of critical essential services, the Utilities Section has been proactively working with all our customers to provide flexible payment arrangements and facilitate communications with Hillsborough County social service agencies that offer payment assistance. During this time, we have not charged late fees or interrupted the delivery of utility services. Later this month, customers will again begin to receive reminder notices. Late fees will be assessed for new balances accrued after November 1, 2020. To mitigate the impact to customers, unpaid balances accrued up to November 1, 2020 will not be charged a late fee.
We understand that customers may still be experiencing financial hardship. The collections team will be ready to discuss and authorize reasonable repayment terms in order to avoid interruption of services. Customers should pay close attention to their utility bills and identify any balances owed prior to the COVID-19 outbreak in March. Getting current on these older balances should be their first priority in negotiating comprehensive payment terms.
Assistance under the federal CARES Act is still available through the appropriate Hillsborough County social services agencies through December 31st. Our team will continue to facilitate communications between our customers and these agencies to determine eligibility for payment assistance.
Customers looking for additional guidance should contact our representatives by calling (813) 274-8811.
For additional information, please contact:
Elias Franco, Water Distribution & Consumer Services Manager
Office: (813) 274-8335
Cell: (813) 352-3607
Fax: (813) 274-8358