Florida public power utility JEA will receive up to $3 million in cost-sharing funds through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to offset costs for the utility’s water conservation programs.
The award is provided through FDEP’s Protecting Florida Together, Alternative Water Supply Grant program.
JEA is one of 13 organizations receiving funding through an FDEP program that supports local municipalities planning for and implementing water conservation, reuse and other water supply projects.
“We are grateful to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for helping us invest in our water future,” JEA Managing Director and CEO Vickie Cavey said. “This grant will allow JEA to continue our commitment to water conservation and sustainability in Northeast Florida.”
Through a cost-sharing arrangement, FDEP will reimburse JEA for a portion of the utility’s expenses for its water conservation programs. JEA provides incentives to customers to purchase WaterSense® labeled products to reduce water consumption and reduce their utility bills.
For residential customers, those products include water conservation kits, smart irrigation controllers, rotating irrigation nozzles, toilets, showerheads and clothes washers. Products for commercial customers include ice machines, cooling towers, toilets and urinals and various kitchen equipment.
In the past three years, FDEP awards have helped JEA offset $1.8 million in costs for water conservation initiatives, including JEA’s free water conservation kits for customers. More than 27,000 JEA customers have received water conservation kits, which help customers save up to $75 annually in water costs.
Since fiscal year 2019, FDEP has invested $335 million in Florida communities to support alternative water supply and the protection of Florida’s natural systems.
