The Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) has approved the 2026 cost recovery factors for Florida Public Utilities Company’s (FPUC) Gas Utility Access and Replacement Directive (GUARD) program. This decision allows FPUC to recover costs associated with accelerating the replacement of problematic natural gas pipelines and relocating service lines to safer, more accessible areas.
The GUARD program, first approved in 2023, is designed to enhance safety and reliability within FPUC’s natural gas distribution system. Projects under the program are prioritized based on risk assessments performed by FPUC’s Distribution Integrity Management Program and an independent contractor.
According to the FPSC, “Projects are driven by risk assessments performed under FPUC’s Distribution Integrity Management Program and by an independent contractor, prioritizing high-risk and high-consequence areas. All projects are designed to enhance the safety and reliability of FPUC’s natural gas distribution system.”
For 2026, the Commission has 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 expenses such as depreciation, fuel-line extensions required for meter relocations, customer notifications, and property taxes.
As a result of these changes, starting January through December 2026, residential customers using 20 therms per month will see their GUARD surcharge increase to $5.20 per month from $2.22 in 2025.
FPUC plans to invest around $24.9 million in GUARD-related improvements during 2026. The company reports that this will bring its total qualified investment in the program to approximately $110.5 million since inception. The upcoming projects will focus on replacing obsolete or Aldyl-A pipes as well as span pipes and under-building pipes across Palm Beach, Seminole, Polk, and Volusia counties.
“Originally approved in 2023, the GUARD program enables FPUC to accelerate the replacement of problematic natural gas pipelines and facilities, and to relocate mains and service lines from rear easements and other difficult-to-access areas to safer, more accessible front-lot easements,” according to information provided by FPSC.
Florida Public Utilities Company serves about 33,100 retail customers in its Northwest and Northeast Divisions.
