Jacksonville residents depend on JEA for essential services like water and electricity. However, JEA’s current deposit policy unfairly penalizes customers for temporary financial setbacks.

Under this policy, customers may be required to pay a new utility deposit if:

They reuse a previous JEA account, or
An ACH payment is returned for insufficient funds
These deposits are often tied to a customer’s credit score, even when the outstanding balance is paid in full.

This policy creates a financial burden for working families, seniors, and residents living paycheck to paycheck. A single returned payment—often caused by timing issues—can result in bank fees, service disruption, and a new deposit just to maintain basic utilities.

Access to essential services should not be treated like a high-risk loan. Utility services are a necessity, not a privilege, and customers should not be punished multiple times for one financial mistake.

We are calling on JEA to:
End credit score–based deposit requirements for existing or returning customers
Stop requiring new deposits solely due to a single returned ACH payment
Offer reasonable grace periods or payment arrangements
Provide clear and transparent explanations of how deposits are calculated
We urge JEA and Jacksonville leadership to review and revise this policy to ensure fairness, transparency, and financial dignity for all residents.