TECO Companies Donate $1 Million to Charities to Help During Pandemic

Share program will be able to help thousands of customers

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--To help the community during this unprecedented time of uncertainty, Tampa Electric and TECO Peoples Gas are donating $1 million to local charities that will benefit people financially affected by the pandemic.

• The utilities are donating $500,000 to the Share program, which supports customers who cannot pay their utility bills. The program, administered by the Salvation Army, was also simplified to provide assistance to more people during the pandemic.
• The utilities are donating $500,000 to other charitable partner organizations working on the front lines of the pandemic, providing critical support to our community through meals, housing and other assistance.

“We understand many customers may be experiencing financial hardship during this difficult time,” said Nancy Tower, president and chief executive officer. “These community partners can help ease that burden for thousands of people.”

In response to this pandemic, Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas have suspended disconnections for residential and commercial customers. They encourage customers to stay as current as possible on their utility bills to avoid accumulating a large balance. The utilities are also working with customers to help connect them with utility bill-payment resources and other assistance, as appropriate.

“Our goal is to provide assistance and peace of mind so customers can stay focused on what’s most important – keeping themselves and their family safe and healthy,” said T.J. Szelistowski, president of Peoples Gas. “It is important for our customers to know that we’re here for them.”

The utilities’ charitable contributions are part of their ongoing efforts to help customers during the pandemic. All TECO employees who are able to work from home are doing so. Employees are reducing direct contact with customers and suspending non-essential services, such as Home Energy Audits. For both utilities, employees stand ready to serve customers by phone and online.

Essential work will continue, and you may continue to see TECO employees working in the community, with a focus on safety and social distancing. They are working hard to keep your electricity and natural gas flowing safely as hurricane season approaches.

TECO’s charitable contributions are paid by shareholders and do not affect customer bills.

Tampa Electric, one of Florida’s largest investor-owned electric utilities, serves about 780,000 customers in West Central Florida. Peoples Gas System, Florida’s largest natural gas distribution utility, serves more than 400,000 customers across Florida. Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas are subsidiaries of Emera Inc., a geographically diverse energy and services company headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.