Were you a natural gas customer of the City of Pensacola between 2011 and now? You may be owed money from a significant class action settlement.
Who This Affects
If you were a natural gas customer of any of the following entities at any time from August 6, 2011, to the present, and your service address was inside the Pensacola city limits, you may be entitled to monetary compensation:
- City of Pensacola
- Pensacola Energy
- Energy Services of Pensacola
What Happened: The $12.6 Million Lawsuit
The case, Eric L. Frank v. City of Pensacola, centered on allegations that the City of Pensacola improperly charged franchise fees to its natural gas customers. Here’s what the lawsuit claimed:
The Core Issues:
- Unauthorized Fees: City staff allegedly lacked authority to pass franchise fees on to customers—these fees should have been charged only to the City’s gas utility department, not individual customers
- Constitutional Violation: The franchise fees were challenged as impermissible taxes that violated Florida’s Tax Preemption Doctrine
- Double-Dipping: The City also charged Utility Service Taxes on top of the already-improper franchise fees
The Resolution: A Florida Circuit Court entered a Final Judgment that:
- Stopped the improper billing practices going forward
- Approved a $12.6 million settlement to compensate affected customers
- Required refunds of the improperly collected fees
- How Much Money Are We Talking About? The settlement fund totals $12,600,000, which will be distributed among all eligible class members based on how much they were overcharged during the affected period.
What You Need to Do Depends on Your Current Status
Current Customers: You’re All Set
If you’re currently a natural gas customer of the City of Pensacola, you don’t need to do anything. You’ll automatically receive a check in the mail for your share of the settlement.
Former Customers: Action Required
If you’re no longer a natural gas customer of the City, you must submit a claim to receive your compensation. Here’s what you need to do:
- Complete a Claim Form with required documentation
- Submit it online or by mail
- Meet the deadline: Claims must be postmarked no later than one year from when the initial notification process is completed
How to File Your Claim
Website: Visit www.PensacolaNaturalGasClassActionSettlement.com to:
- Learn more about your settlement benefits
- File your claim form online
- Access important documents, including the Settlement Agreement
Phone: Call (833) 890-3973 for assistance
Mail: Send completed forms to: Frank v. City of Pensacola
c/o Kroll Settlement Administration
PO Box 225391
New York, NY 10150-5391
Important Legal Information
By accepting settlement payments, class members release the City of Pensacola from further claims related to this franchise fee issue. This means you cannot pursue additional lawsuits on the same matter.
What happens if you do nothing?
- Current customers: You’ll still receive automatic payment
- Former customers: You’ll receive nothing and forfeit your right to compensation
- Everyone: You cannot pursue separate legal action on these franchise fee claims
Timeline and Next Steps
The settlement has been approved by the Escambia County Circuit Court, and the notification process is underway. Current customers should watch their mail for settlement checks, while former customers should act quickly to submit their claims.
Key Dates to Remember:
- Settlement approval: Completed
- Automatic payments to current customers: In progress
- Claim deadline for former customers: One year from initial notification completion
Questions or Need Help?
This settlement represents a significant victory for Pensacola natural gas customers who were improperly charged franchise fees for years. Whether you’re owed $50 or $500, every eligible person deserves their fair share of this $12.6 million settlement.
For complete details, official documents, and to verify your eligibility, visit www.PensacolaNaturalGasClassActionSettlement.com or call the settlement administrator at (833) 890-3973.
This blog post is for informational purposes only and is based on the official settlement notice from Kroll Settlement Administration. For complete legal details and official information, please refer to the settlement website or contact the administrator directly.
Photo by Mathieu Turle on Unsplash