Your electric account is part of your move-in plan
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) supplies electric service to Century Village West Palm Beach. In a condominium with individually metered units, the resident’s electric account is usually separate from the association’s accounts for common-area service. Confirm how your building is metered and what your lease or association arrangements cover.
- Before moving in: arrange service for the correct address and unit through FPL’s Start, Stop, Move service. Ask about any identification, deposit, or other account requirements.
- When moving out: coordinate the stop or transfer date. Selling a unit or obtaining occupancy approval does not automatically update an FPL account.
- Keep information current: update telephone numbers, email, mailing address, and notification preferences.
- Protect access: keep account credentials private. Use FPL’s authorized arrangements if another person needs to help manage the account.
FPL, the owner, or the association?
The location of a problem does not always determine who pays for the repair. Utility ownership, the building’s wiring arrangement, and the association’s governing documents all matter.
| Concern | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Electric bill, account, meter reading, or utility outage | Contact FPL. For a suspected meter problem, let FPL evaluate its equipment. |
| Unit outlet, appliance, or interior electrical problem | Contact a licensed electrician and notify the manager when building systems or association approval may be involved. |
| Shared electrical panel, meter bank, common wiring, or building-wide damage | Notify the board or manager promptly. They should coordinate with FPL and a licensed electrician to establish ownership, repair responsibility, and restoration requirements. |
| Dark stairway, catwalk, laundry room, or association parking area | Report to the association or manager. The fixture may be association-owned even if FPL supplies its electricity. |
| Malfunctioning FPL streetlight | Use FPL’s streetlight reporting service. Record the location and pole identifier if visible from a safe place; ask the manager who maintains the light if ownership is unclear. |
FPL’s property-damage guidance explains that customer-owned service equipment can require repairs before power is restored. Its house diagrams should not be treated as a condominium responsibility chart. Have the appropriate professionals determine responsibility for your particular building.
Never open a meter enclosure, remove a meter, break a seal, or work on shared electrical equipment yourself. Report dangerous conditions immediately.
What to do when the power goes out
- Check for immediate danger. For fire, smoke, sparking equipment, a downed line, or a medical emergency, move to safety and call 911. Report unsafe utility equipment to FPL as well.
- Report and check status. Use FPL’s outage service, app, or 1-800-468-8243 (1-800-4OUTAGE). Keep your account number and service address accessible offline.
- Determine the scope safely. Is your unit affected, several units, or the entire building? Tell the manager what you observe. Working lights elsewhere do not rule out an electrical fault affecting your unit.
- Avoid repeated resets. If a breaker keeps tripping, or you notice heat, burning smells, buzzing, or unusually bright or dim lights, stop using the affected equipment and seek professional help. Do not repeatedly reset a breaker or touch wet electrical equipment.
- Follow restoration instructions. Utility restoration and repairs to damaged building equipment may involve different parties. An estimated restoration time can change.
Prepare before the next storm
Keep charged phones and power banks, flashlights, emergency contacts, and a plan for heat and loss of refrigeration. Avoid candles. Never operate a fuel-powered generator indoors, on a condo balcony, or near doors, windows, or air intakes; condominium settings may not provide a safe, permitted location. Never connect a portable generator to an outlet to energize building wiring.
Preparation today makes difficult days easier.
If you depend on electric-powered medical equipment
FPL’s Medically Essential Service Program provides special notices and referrals for qualifying residential customers. A Florida-licensed physician must certify the medical need, and enrollment must be renewed annually.
Ask your healthcare team how long your equipment’s backup can operate and when to relocate. Discuss available local emergency support in advance. If loss of power creates an immediate medical emergency, call 911.
Learn about medically essential serviceUnderstand your bill—and ask for help early
Compare electricity use in kilowatt-hours (kWh), the number of billing days, and the charges on the bill. A higher total can reflect more consumption, different weather, a longer billing period, changed charges, or several factors together.
- Review FPL’s account information and available usage tools when a bill seems unusual.
- Check for changes in occupancy, thermostat settings, cooling performance, or equipment operation.
- Maintain air-conditioning filters and have qualified professionals address equipment that runs unusually long or cannot maintain the set temperature.
- Ask FPL to explain charges you do not understand. Do not assume an association fee or assessment is part of your individual electric bill.
Budgeting and assistance
Budget billing, if available for your account, can help smooth payments; it does not make electricity free or necessarily reduce total annual cost. Ask FPL about current eligibility and reconciliation terms.
If paying the bill is difficult, contact FPL before a missed payment or disconnection. Its Assistance Center lists resources, including Care To Share and referrals. Eligibility, funding, and assistance vary; help is not automatic.
FPL Assistance CenterProtect yourself from utility scams
Be cautious about an unexpected call, text, email, or visitor claiming that you must pay immediately to avoid disconnection. A caller ID, logo, or uniform alone does not establish legitimacy.
- Do not pay using gift cards, cryptocurrency, or an unusual transfer method demanded by an unsolicited caller.
- Do not share passwords, payment information, or verification codes with someone who unexpectedly contacts you.
- End the contact and independently use the number on your bill or FPL’s official website to verify the claim.
- Check website addresses carefully. Avoid following payment links in suspicious messages.
- Verify an unexpected visitor through FPL before permitting access; do not let anyone pressure you into entry or payment.
Report suspected scams to FPL through its official scam page and to law enforcement when appropriate. If payment information was compromised, promptly contact your bank or card provider.
FPL scam protection & reportingWhat associations can do for owners
Keep common-area account information and authorized contacts current. Maintain safe access to electrical equipment, coordinate required repairs through qualified contractors, and include electrical outages in the emergency plan.
A short owner handout can explain the correct unit address format, how to report a common-area problem, and where to find FPL’s outage information. Boards should avoid promising utility restoration times or sharing residents’ medical information without an appropriate basis.
For recurring outages, damaged equipment, or persistent lighting problems, keep a record of dates, locations, ticket numbers, and follow-up. The manager’s responsibilities should be clear in the management agreement.
Helpful contacts & official resources
Emergency danger or immediate medical emergency: 911
FPL outages and unsafe utility conditions: 1-800-468-8243 (1-800-4OUTAGE)
Prepared October 17, 2026 using FPL’s published resources. Confirm current account requirements and program terms directly with FPL. This independent Board Synergy Club page is not affiliated with or endorsed by FPL. Electrical repair responsibility depends on utility ownership, applicable requirements, and your association’s governing documents.
Related Board Synergy resources
Owners & RulesProperty & SafetyHurricane preparednessEmergency repairsImportant phone numbersConnect outage planning to the building’s response plan
Board Synergy recommended practice
Keep individual electric accounts separate from common-area utility accounts. Identify the manager or authorized person who can coordinate shared equipment concerns with FPL and licensed professionals.
- Report clearly: Record the affected units or shared areas, time, observed condition, utility ticket number, and manager notification. Stay away from damaged or wet electrical equipment.
- Plan for prolonged loss of power: Arrange a personal plan for medical equipment, indoor heat, communication, refrigeration, and a safe alternative location. Do not assume program enrollment or a neighbor’s generator guarantees supply.
- After restoration: Have qualified professionals assess damaged equipment before use when required. Keep repair, outage, and insurance records, and review repeated problems with the responsible parties.
Connected Board Synergy guides
- Air conditioning drainpipes
- Hurricane preparedness guides
- Emergency repairs
- Internet crime reporting
- Licensed insured contractors
- Who manages what
The checklists above are recommended practices. Florida law, governing-document requirements, UCO procedures, and contractual duties have different sources of authority. Confirm the requirements that apply to your association.