Keys Energy to cut bills by 10 percent due to coronavirus crisis
Keys Energy said Monday it will cut all customers’ bills for May and June by 10 percent to help those left out of work and struggling financially due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The public utility’s elected five-person board unanimously voted for the across-the-board reduction at its April 8 meeting, which was held online due to the crisis.
The move is unprecedented.
“It’s a first of its kind thing,” said Julio Torrado, the utility’s spokesman. “Both staff and the board were trying to see if there was a way to help. Finance was crunching the numbers and they were able to come up with some options.”
The 10 percent cut is made possible in part by the utility putting off capital projects it deemed not urgent.
An average Keys Energy customer consuming 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity during May and June would see an energy bill for $116.67, Torrado said as an example.
“Without this rate relief, the same consumption would have resulted in a bill of $129.63,” he said in a statement.
The board agreed to reevaluate the rate cut in June for July bills.
Keys Energy in March announced it had temporarily suspended disconnections due to COVID-19.
Debt won’t be erased, the utility said Monday, but staff will work with customers so they can make payments.
Customers who are unable to pay their bills or do not have any options other than cash may call 305-295-1000 or email Keys Energy at Web.Accounts@KeysEnergy.com.
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