Florida Power & Light (FPL) offers its low- to moderate-income residential customers a one-time credit of $200 applied directly to their electric bill through its Saving Steps program.
The benefit is not given in cash, is subject to fund availability by area, and may take up to 90 days to reflect in the account.
The program is aimed at households that, according to the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) metric from United Way, earn too much to qualify for government assistance but still struggle to meet their basic needs.
In 2024, nearly 47% of households in Florida—about 4.27 million—were below that threshold, indicating a large pool of potential beneficiaries, including many Cuban families residing in the southern part of the state.
Who can participate
To qualify, the applicant must meet five conditions simultaneously: be an active residential customer of FPL at an address within the company’s service area; have no history of fraud on the account; have a household income equal to or less than the ALICE threshold for their county; not have received this credit previously on that account or address; and complete the series of educational videos on energy savings required by the program.
Both tenants and homeowners can apply. According to FPL, "this program is designed to help qualifying ALICE households start saving energy and reduce their monthly bill, whether they rent or own their home."
Two routes based on attendance history
The process varies depending on whether the applicant has received previous energy assistance.
Those who have received LIHEAP, EHEAP, or FPL Care To Share within the last 12 months can directly view the educational videos and then complete the application; FPL will confirm the credit within up to 60 days.
Those who have not received any of these aids must follow a longer path: first, verify their income using the United Way ALICE calculator —selecting the state and county, and entering the household size and income— and then validate that income with FPL's partner, The Salvation Army, through the portal fplsavingsteps.com.
In this case, the entire process can take up to 90 days: the Salvation Army typically processes the verifications in about 30 days, and FPL has up to an additional 60 days to confirm the credit.
When registering with the Salvation Army, it is important to use the same email address and zip code used during the energy-saving tour; otherwise, the Saving Steps option will not be available on the portal.
Accepted income documents include pay stubs, Social Security disability statements, veteran pensions, workers' compensation, TANF, pensions or retirements, child support, and alimony, among others.
Limited funds and emergency alternatives
A critical aspect to keep in mind: FPL warns that it may stop accepting applications in certain areas when local funds are depleted. If you access the page and the system indicates that applications are no longer being accepted in the area, the company recommends checking back later, as funding may be reactivated.
This credit does not replace emergency assistance. Those in need of immediate help to avoid disconnection should turn to the FPL emergency assistance programs, where options such as Care To Share —up to $750 in 12 months— or LIHEAP and Care To Share for Miami-Dade are available, which can cover up to $2,000 in energy crisis situations.
The tariff context makes credit especially relevant: since January 2026, the typical residential bill for FPL for 1,000 kWh rose to $136.64 per month in the peninsula, with additional increases projected up to $148.15 in December 2029.
The 200 dollars from Saving Steps essentially equate to about a month and a half of utility bills for a typical household.
Related videos:
Filed under: