Electric Utilities

Utility leaders say they are responding to a trend of stronger and more unpredictable hurricanes as the 2024 outlook calls for what may be the busiest hurricane season ever.

Existing coal and new natural gas-fired power plants that run more than 40% of the time will have to eliminate 90% of their carbon dioxide emissions.

Electric bills will be reduced starting in June due to lower-than-expected natural gas costs.

The city and Duke Energy announced the Renter Utility Relief Program at a news conference Friday. This plan will help renters pay electric, sanitation and water bills that are past due.

A couple of Hillsborough County commissioners agreed to each send personal letters asking the commission which oversees Tampa Electric to request the utility do the required cost of service study ahead of next year's base rate changes.

Clean energy advocates say it's not much relief after average bills have gone up 62 percent in four years.

"In the last four years, we've seen TECO rates go up 62%. And folks, income has not gone up at 62% at the same time, so that energy burden continues to increase,” said Brooke Ward with Food and Water Watch.

That technology allows company technicians to troubleshoot just about any power disruption by clicking on a screen at their St. Petersburg control center.

Hawaiians had the highest monthly electric bills in 2022 paying on average $210.26 a month. In contrast, Utah’s residents paid the least at $84.97.

Supporters say residents who are customers of municipal utilities but live outside city boundaries are being taxed without representation.

A collaboration of at least 10 advocacy organizations in Florida have launched a campaign to mobilize the Hillsborough County Commission to push back against rate hikes driven by fossil fuel prices.

The Florida Public Service Commission has oversight of certain issues for local utilities but does not regulate their rates.