ECUA TO STOP GIVING PENNIES AS CHANGE

Starting January first, the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority won't be able to guarantee pennies as change. The utility's banking partners say they can no longer order pennies due to US government production cuts. The change affects less than two percent of ECUA's customers—but that's still nearly two thousand people who pay in cash each month. When exact change isn't available, ECUA will credit any overpayment to customers' next bills. The utility says other coins and bills will remain in stock, and customers have other payment options available including online, by phone, check, or soon through a new lobby kiosk. (:35)