To stop utility services at a current address, call Customer Service (863) 834-9535 from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. You will need your account number or Federal Tax Identification Number (FEIN) and the address where you are stopping service. Your name must be listed as the contact person for the business account.

Please supply a forwarding address for your final bill and an updated phone number.

Services cannot be disconnected on the same day as your request.

There is no charge to disconnect your services.

If you have moved locations, you will need to transfer your utility services from your old address to your new address. Call Customer Service at (863) 834-9535 from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

When calling to move services, you will need your account number or Federal Tax Identification Number (FEIN). Your name must be listed as the contact person for the business account. You will need to provide your old address and the date you wish to stop services at that address. Then, provide your new address and the date you wish to turn on services. If an additional deposit is required, services will be activated per request once the deposit has been paid.

Your account(s) cannot have any past due balances to process a Move Your Services request.

Move Your Service Fees

Scheduled requests for service start-up at your new address is $20.00.

Same-day requests for service start-up at your new address is $40.00.

There is no charge to turn off services at your old address.

Commercial Deposits

Commercial customers shall be required to pay the City of Lakeland a deposit to provide service to commercial establishments. The deposit shall be an amount equal to one time the average bill at the commercial establishment. The deposit may be in the form of cash, check, credit or debit card, a surety bond issued from a good and sufficient surety company authorized to do business in the State of Florida, or an irrevocable letter of credit from a reputable financial institution that holds a branch within the service territory of the City of Lakeland and licensed to do business in the State of Florida, which shall continue in effect for all the time that utility services are provided.

The City of Lakeland shall continuously monitor the payment history and creditworthiness of those Commercial Accounts that have qualified for the exemptions. In the event a Commercial Account fails to maintain an acceptable payment or the additional criteria required for those Commercial Accounts qualified above, the Commercial Account shall be required to provide a security deposit in the full amount required by this ordinance.

 

Landlords / Real Estate Deposits

Landlords or Real Estate Agents with acceptable payment history or an acceptable credit score, wishing to activate service in multiple residences may post a separate "blanket" deposit of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) for up to five (5) sites. If the customer applying for such multiple services already has an office account, the Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) "blanket" deposit may be added to the office account.

For each additional residential location, a deposit will be required as follows:

Electric Service $150.00
Water Service $30.00
Wastewater $35.00
Solid Waste and Recycling $15.00
Stormwater $10.00
Polk County Sewer (if applicable) $210.00


In either scenario, the deposit will be held until all accounts are finalized. In order to process a refund, the bills must be paid or transferred to the blanket account, so the deposit can be applied against all final charges.
 

Refund of Deposits

Cash deposits made by Residential or Commercial Customers shall be refunded provided that all final charges for electric and/or water service have been paid in full at the time the customer discontinues service. Refunds are mailed 30 days after final payment. Surety bonds or irrevocable letters of credit posted in lieu of such deposits shall be canceled upon payment of the final bill for electric and/or water service after the customer discontinues service. Residential customers who demonstrate a satisfactory utility credit history for two (2) consecutive years may have their deposit credited to their current bill. Any deposits retained at the time of termination of the account will automatically be applied to any outstanding bill, and any remainder shall be refunded.
 

Deposit Increases

All Commercial Accounts are subject to periodic review by the City and subsequent adjustment to maintain the amount of security required by the ordinance. When an increased security deposit is required, the customer will be notified by U.S. Mail, and if the customer has previously posted a cash deposit with the City, the increased security deposit shall be billed to the customer in equal installments over a period of six (6) months from the recalculation date. In the event the customer has posted a surety bond or letter of credit, the customer shall provide new or properly amended bonds or letters of credit in the full amount of the recalculated security deposit within ninety (90) days of the recalculation date.

Unacceptable Payment History for Commercial Customers

The account has been disconnected for non-payment;
One (1) dishonored check;
Meter tampering;
Electric energy diversion; or
More than two (2) delinquent payments.


If a Commercial Account expands its business to a new service address, the Commercial Account shall be required to:

1. Increase their current security deposit to include and cover the new address; or

2. Provide a separate security deposit in accordance with this ordinance for the new service address.

Notice to Lakeland Electric Customers Regarding Sales and Use Tax Exemption and Obtaining an Assignment of Rights for Refunds

Generally, the sale of electric power or energy by an electric utility is taxable under Florida law, requiring Lakeland Electric to collect and remit sales and use tax on any sale of electric power or energy from its Customers to the Florida Department of Revenue (FDOR). However, specified Customers may be entitled to an exemption from this tax under Florida Statute or as otherwise provided by the Florida Administrative Code, Rule 12A-1.053. Those Customers may apply for and obtain a Certificate of Exemption directly from FDOR.

Customers entitled to a tax exemption may apply for a refund from the FDOR for those taxes which may have been collected in error. An application for a refund of sales and use tax from the FDOR for taxes paid on or after July 1, 1999, must be filed within three (3) years after the date the tax was paid. Customers may contact the FDOR at floridarevenue.com for additional information regarding applicable exemptions.

Lakeland Electric will issue an Assignment of Rights in lieu of a refund or credit applied to a Customer's electric bill for Sales Tax paid due to a Customer not providing a Sales Tax Exemption Certificate. Assignment of Rights Forms(State & County) is both needed from Lakeland Electric to assist in securing the refund directly from the FDOR. Once the Customer has completed the forms, they should be mailed to Lakeland Electric address noted below or emailed to Lakeland Electric at customerservicebilling@lakelandelectric.com along with a current Sales Tax Exemption Certificate for research and processing; once the research has been completed and the refund amount confirmed, Lakeland Electric will sign and notarize the Assignment of Rights. The completed Assignment of Rights form and research will then be mailed or emailed (PDF) back to the Customer to submit to FDOR for the refund claim.

If you have any questions, contact Lakeland Electric by phone at 863-834-1703 or mail to 501 E Lemon St. Lakeland, Fl. 33801 ATTN: LE Billing/Collections or email customerservicebilling@lakelandelectric.com