Utilities


Water and Wastewater

Charlotte County Utilities (CCU) is a water and wastewater utility that serves approximately 50,000 homes and businesses in Charlotte County. It is a government-owned enterprise which is fully funded by customer rates, not by tax dollars. Savings opportunities (or “profit”) are passed through to the benefit of the utility customers. There are several other water and sewer utility companies in Charlotte County, some of which buy their water from Charlotte County Utilities.

The City of Punta Gorda Utilities Department services the city itself along with other areas within Punta Gorda and is responsible for the maintenance and operation of approximately 237 miles of water main piping, serving an area of over 38 square miles.

The Englewood Water District encompasses approximately 44.5 square miles in Southern Sarasota County and Western Charlotte County. There are three (3) fresh water and two (2) brackish water wellfields. The District also operates a 3.0 MGD Water Reclamation Facility to take care of the sanitary sewer needs of the area. As of November 2008 82% of all water customers also receive sewer service.

The Gasparilla Island Water Association, Inc. (GIWA) is a non-profit membership owned water and sewer utility organized in 1966 through the efforts of the Boca Grande Women’s Club to obtain a suitable supply of drinking water for Gasparilla Island (Boca Grande). The members of GIWA are property owners on Gasparilla Island and the Boca Grande Causeway that are connected to GIWA’s water and sewer system.

The remaining water utility is the Charlotte Harbor Water Association servicing the area around Charlotte Harbor.

Electric

Florida Power and Light (FPL) is the provider of electric service to all of Charlotte County. Florida Power & Light (FPL) is among the largest and fastest-growing electric utilities in the United States. In 2008, the company’s average number of customer accounts grew to 4.5 million. They serve some 8 million people – nearly half of Florida’s 17 million population – along the eastern seaboard and the southern portion of Florida. Approximately 104,400 of those customers are in Charlotte County. FPL offers a wide variety of conservation programs for residential, commercial and industrial customers. Information about their rates and charges can be found on their web site or by calling them directly.

Solar electricity is a green alternative to traditional electric utilities. SunPower is the global leader in solar power. They are the leading provider of residential solar with over 100,000 customers, including many in Florida. As well as their residential systems, they provide solar to many of America’s leading companies, including Apple, Google, and Wal-mart.

Natural Gas

Natural gas services is provided by TECO Peoples Gas. TECO Peoples Gas is the largest gas utility in the state and is regulated by the Florida Public Service Commission. People’s Gas serves over 330,000 commercial, industrial and residential customers in nearly all of Florida’s major population centers. They also offer a variety of energy conservation programs for both commercial and residential customers.

Telephone—Cable—Internet

CenturyLink is the third largest telecommunications company in the United States. The company provides broadband, voice and wireless services to consumers and businesses in the county and across the country. It also offers advanced entertainment services under the CenturyLink™ Prism™ TV and DIRECTV brands. In addition, the company provides data, voice and managed services to business, government and wholesale customers through its high-quality advanced fiber optic network and multiple data centers.

Comcast Cable  (Xfinity) is one of the nation’s largest video, high-speed internet, and phone providers to residential and business customers. Comcast is the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, local television station groups, television production operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks.

DIRECTV and AT&T have the technology you need to take your favorite shows and movies further. Great TV service is about more than just channels. It also requires advanced technology that provides you with the freedom to watch TV your way. From the most advanced HD DVR ever to free mobile apps and more HD channels than any other TV provider,

Exede (now Viasat) is one of the nation’s largest suppliers of satellite internet. With a variety of service speeds for every budget, we can help you get the internet you want and deserve.

Frontier – FiOS® Internet Fast. Reliable. Affordable. Get the power of a 100% fiber optic network to your home at a great price.

HughesNet currently operates North America’s largest consumer satellite Internet network with their services, and have a proven track record of serving more Americans, in more places, over a longer period of time, than any other satellite Internet provider.

US Dish USDISH.com is one of the nation’s premier online DISH retailers. Their goals are to give you great deals on DISH service and to provide an easy way for you to order.

Verizon provides telecommunications service to select areas in the western part of the county and Englewood.

Environmental & Extension Services

Refuse collection services are provided by a County-wide franchised system that provides uniformity of services and rate monitoring.  Residential collection is provided weekly, in addition to curbside single-stream recycling and vegetative waste collection.

Disposal Services is a Class I disposal facility owned and operated by Charlotte County Solid Waste. The facility’s existing disposal area has a projected capacity to the year 2030 with 160 acres for future growth.  The County’s per ton disposal fee is well below the state average per ton fee.

Mosquito Control is a program provided by the County which incorporates a professional and responsive program to protect the health and the safety of our residents.