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Florida Power replaces offices with stationsBy J. NEALY-BROWN © St. Petersburg Times, published May 9, 2001 ST. PETERSBURG -- Hundreds of Florida Power customers who have been paying their bills in person at the Fifth Street S business office will have to find a new place to drop off their payments in a few days. The business office, 125 Fifth St. S, will close Friday. Instead, Florida Power has contracted with several businesses to accept customers' payments. There are 12 pay stations opened to handle the nearly 6,800 customers a week who visit that office, according to Rick Janka, Florida Power's communications consultant. They studied customers' ZIP codes and strategically opened pay stations that would be convenient. Although Florida Power says most of its customers pay bills by computer, mail or automatic bank draft, low-income and elderly customers may prefer to pay in person, especially if they are paying at the last minute. They want a receipt to prove they have paid. The energy company has given its customers a list of two dozen other locations in St. Petersburg, Gulfport and Pinellas Park where they may pay. "It might be easier," customer Jerry Esposito said Tuesday as he was looking over the list. "Sometimes I come down, I've got to stand in line for an hour." The new locations accept payments only, including cash, checks, traveler's checks and money orders. Customers must have their bill or account number with them to make a payment. Customers who have questions about their bills, need to make payment arrangements or get account numbers and balance will have to call 1-(888)-893-9392. Across the state, all of Florida Power's 33 stores eventually will be closed, steering customers to 200 pay stations in retail outlets. The St. Petersburg business office closing is the third in Pinellas County since April. Last month, the business offices in Clearwater and Largo closed. In October, the offices in St. Pete Beach and Pinellas Park will close. The pay stations will bring Florida Power in line with Carolina Power & Light Co., which expects to complete $5.3-billion deal to buy the St. Petersburg utility's parent by the end of the year. Heidi Meisberger, who normally pays her bill by phone, occasionally has to make a trip in person if she misses the bill's due date. "I guess I'll have to stay on top of my bill," she said. Where to make paymentsFlorida Power's downtown business office will close Friday. Here are other places you can pay your bill. Remember, you must have your bill or account number. If you don't have your account number, need to make payment arrangements or want to find the closest pay station, call Florida Power directly toll-free at 1-888-893-9392. Mail Boxes, Etc. 204 37th Ave. N, St. Petersburg Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Sat 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. America's Cash Express-ACE 2705 54th Ave. N, #18, St. Petersburg Mon-Thurs 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sat 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. America's Cash Express-ACE 3050 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg Mon-Thurs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fri 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sat 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. America's Cash Express-ACE 3254 Central Ave., St Petersburg Mon-Thurs & Sat 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fri 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. America's Cash Express-ACE 8230 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg Mon-Thurs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fri 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sat 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Akers & Hebron True Value 5846 Ninth Ave. N, St. Petersburg Mon-Fri 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Gift Shelf 2850 34th St. N, St. Petersburg Mon-Sat 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Swanson's Market 2739 Ninth St. N, St. Petersburg Mon-Sat 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Customers must have their bill or account number with them to make a payment. Mail payments to: P.O. Box 33199, St. Petersburg, Fla. 33733-8199. Payment locations subject to change. Please call 1-888-893-9392 for updated list of locations.
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