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, first approved in 2023, allows FPUC to speed up the replacement of problematic natural gas pipelines and facilities. It also supports moving mains and service lines from hard-to-reach rear easements to more accessible front-lot locations.
Projects under the GUARD program are selected based on risk assessments conducted through FPUC’s Distribution Integrity Management Program and an independent contractor. These assessments focus on areas with higher risks or potential consequences. The aim is to improve both safety and reliability within FPUC’s natural gas distribution system.
The FPSC set the total GUARD revenue requirement for 2026 at $10.18 million, which includes a $42,599 under-recovery carried over from 2025. The recovered costs cover depreciation, necessary fuel-line extensions due to meter relocations, customer notifications, and property taxes.
From January through December 2026, a typical residential customer using 20 therms per month will see a GUARD surcharge of $5.20—up from $2.22 in 2025.
For 2026, FPUC plans to invest about $24.9 million in GUARD-related upgrades, adding to a total qualified investment of $110.5 million since the program began. Planned projects will target Palm Beach, Seminole, Polk, and Volusia counties for replacing outdated pipes—including Aldyl-A pipes—and relocating infrastructure from rear-lot easements to street fronts.
FPUC currently serves around 33,100 retail customers across its Northwest and Northeast Divisions.
