The Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) has approved the 2026 Gas Utility Access and Replacement Directive (GUARD) cost recovery factors for Florida Public Utilities Company (FPUC). The GUARD program, which was first approved in 2023, is intended to speed up the replacement of problematic natural gas pipelines and facilities. It also allows for relocating mains and service lines from rear easements and other hard-to-access areas to safer, more accessible front-lot easements.
According to the FPSC, project priorities are determined through risk assessments under FPUC’s Distribution Integrity Management Program as well as by an independent contractor. The focus is on high-risk and high-consequence areas. These projects aim to improve the safety and reliability of FPUC’s natural gas distribution system.
For 2026, the Commission set a total GUARD revenue requirement at $10.18 million. This amount includes a remaining under-recovery of $42,599 from 2025. The approved cost recovery covers depreciation, fuel-line extensions needed for meter relocations, customer notifications, and property taxes.
The GUARD surcharge for a typical residential customer using 20 therms per month will rise to $5.20 in 2026 from $2.22 in 2025.
FPUC expects to invest about $24.9 million in GUARD-related improvements during 2026. This will bring the total qualified program investment to $110.5 million since inception. Planned work includes significant activity in Palm Beach, Seminole, Polk, and Volusia counties where obsolete or Aldyl-A pipes, span pipes, under-building pipes will be replaced and facilities relocated from rear-lot easements to street fronts.
FPUC provides service to approximately 33,100 retail customers across its Northwest and Northeast Divisions.
