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, allows FPUC to speed up the replacement of problematic natural gas pipelines and facilities. It also supports relocating mains and service lines from hard-to-reach areas to safer, more accessible locations at the front of properties.
Projects under the GUARD program are prioritized based on risk assessments conducted by FPUC’s Distribution Integrity Management Program as well as evaluations by an independent contractor. These projects focus on high-risk and high-consequence areas with the goal of improving safety and reliability in FPUC’s natural gas distribution system.
The FPSC set a total GUARD revenue requirement of $10.18 million for 2026. This figure includes a remaining $42,599 under-recovery from 2025. The cost recovery covers depreciation, fuel-line extensions needed for meter relocations, customer notifications, and property taxes.
For residential customers using 20 therms per month, the GUARD surcharge will increase to $5.20 in 2026 from $2.22 in 2025.
In 2026, FPUC expects to invest about $24.9 million in improvements related to the GUARD program. This investment is part of a total qualified program investment that now stands at $110.5 million. Planned projects include replacing obsolete or Aldyl-A pipes, span pipes, under-building pipes, and moving facilities from rear-lot easements to street fronts across Palm Beach, Seminole, Polk, and Volusia counties.
FPUC provides service to around 33,100 retail customers in its Northwest and Northeast Divisions.
