FPL lets you pay your electric bill with a credit card, but the company charges a fee for the service
Florida Power & Light (FPL) accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover for bill payments. You can pay online through your FPL account, by phone, or through their mobile app. However, FPL charges a convenience fee — a percentage of your payment amount — for using a credit card. The fee does not go to FPL; it goes to the payment processor handling the transaction.
Whether paying by credit card makes sense depends on what you earn back. If your card offers 2% cash back and FPL's fee is 2.5%, you lose money on the transaction. If your card offers 5% cash back in a category that includes utilities, and the fee is 2.5%, you come out ahead by 2.5%. The math changes based on your specific card and the current fee amount.
Key Takeaways
- FPL charges a convenience fee (usually between 2% and 3% of your payment) when you pay with a credit card online, by phone, or through their app.
- The fee is worth paying only if your credit card's cash back or rewards rate exceeds the convenience fee percentage.
- Paying by debit card, bank transfer, or check avoids the convenience fee entirely.
- You can set up automatic payments from a bank account at no charge, which is the lowest-cost way to pay on time consistently.
Where to find the current convenience fee amount
FPL's convenience fee changes periodically and varies slightly depending on which payment method you use. The most reliable place to see the exact fee is on the payment screen itself — when you enter your credit card information on FPL's website or app, the fee will appear before you confirm the payment. You can also call FPL's customer service at 1-800-226-3545 to ask what the current fee is.
The fee is calculated as a percentage of your bill amount, not a flat dollar amount. A $150 bill with a 2.5% fee costs $3.75 extra. A $300 bill costs $7.50 extra. This means larger bills make the fee more expensive in absolute dollars, even though the percentage stays the same.
How to pay online without a convenience fee
FPL offers several payment methods that do not charge a convenience fee. The most common is automatic bank account transfer — you provide your checking or savings account number, and FPL withdraws your payment on the due date each month. This costs nothing and removes the risk of forgetting to pay.
You can also mail a check, pay in person at an FPL office or authorized payment location, or use a debit card (which FPL treats the same as a bank transfer and does not charge a fee for). Paying by debit card online or through the app still triggers the convenience fee, so call FPL or check their website to confirm which payment methods are fee-free before you enter your information.
When paying with a credit card makes financial sense
Credit card rewards are only worth the convenience fee if the rewards rate is higher than the fee itself. If you have a card that offers 3% cash back on all purchases and FPL's fee is 2.5%, you net 0.5% — meaning a $200 payment earns you $1 in rewards after paying the $5 fee. That is a small gain, but it is a gain.
Some cards offer higher cash back rates in specific categories. A card that offers 5% cash back on utilities, for example, would earn $10 on a $200 payment. After paying a $5 fee, you keep $5 in rewards. The larger your bill, the more sense this makes. A $500 bill would earn $25 in rewards, minus the $12.50 fee, leaving you $12.50 ahead.
The catch is that most cards do not categorize FPL as a utility purchase — they may code it as a general purchase or a government/services payment, which earns a lower rate. Check your card's terms or call the card issuer to confirm what rate you earn on FPL payments before you decide to pay this way regularly.
How to set up automatic payments from your bank account
Automatic bank account payments are the cheapest and most reliable option for most people. Log into your FPL account online or through the mobile app, go to the payment or billing section, and select "Set Up Automatic Payment" or "Autopay." You will need your checking or savings account number and routing number (both appear on the bottom left of your checks).
You can choose to pay the full bill amount each month, a fixed amount you set, or the minimum payment. FPL will withdraw the money on your chosen due date. If your bill varies month to month (which is common with electric bills), you can set it to pay the full amount and adjust the date if needed. You can pause or cancel autopay at any time through your account.
What to do if you need to dispute a credit card payment
If you pay with a credit card and later dispute the charge with your card issuer, the dispute process can take weeks or months. During that time, FPL may still consider your account past due and could charge a late fee or threaten disconnection. Contact FPL directly before disputing a charge — most billing problems can be resolved by phone in a single call.
If you do dispute a charge, notify FPL in writing at the same time you file the dispute with your card issuer. Explain what the problem is and provide documentation (your bill, payment confirmation, anything relevant). This creates a record and may prevent FPL from taking collection action while the dispute is pending.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay my FPL bill with a credit card without paying a fee?
No. FPL charges a convenience fee for all credit card payments made online, by phone, or through their app. The only way to avoid the fee is to pay by bank transfer, debit card (in some cases), check, or in person at an FPL office.
What credit cards does FPL accept?
FPL accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. The convenience fee applies to all of them equally. Some prepaid cards and gift cards may not be accepted — check with FPL if you are unsure about a specific card.
Is the convenience fee tax deductible?
No. The convenience fee is a payment processing cost, not part of your utility bill. It cannot be deducted as a business expense or utility cost on your taxes, even if you use the electricity for business purposes.
Can I use a credit card to pay someone else's FPL bill?
Yes, if you have their account number or service address. You can pay online or by phone. The convenience fee still applies. The payment will be credited to their account, not yours.
What happens if my credit card payment fails?
FPL will send you a notice that the payment was declined. You can try again with the same card, a different card, or a different payment method. If your account falls behind, FPL may charge a late fee or suspend service. Contact FPL when ready if a payment fails to arrange an alternative payment method.