Electric Utilities

The Public Service Commission is slated March 7 to take up proposals from Duke and other state utilities. Customers can expect to see higher bills in April.

On March 7, the Florida Public Service Commission is expected to decide whether or not to approve rate hikes from Tampa Electric and Duke Energy Florida because of rising natural gas costs and expensive storm preparations.

Eric Silagy, the CEO of Florida Power & Light unexpectedly announced his retirement. The company said the move was not connected to a burgeoning political spending scandal.

It comes after documents leaked to two newspapers accused the company of hiring a political consulting firm that ran sham candidates to siphon votes.

One legislator compared customers paying surcharges while not being able to vote for municipal offices as “taxation without representation.”

Under the proposals, the increases would mean around 20% higher electric bills for Duke customers and about 10% for TECO customers.

Florida Power & Light is asking the state Public Service Commission to approve collecting more than a billion dollars from customers to recoup costs related to Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole, and high natural gas costs.

Alabama Power and Florida Power & Light hired the consulting firm Matrix to help shape their fortunes. Matrix funded six sites that covered politics, filling a void left by the decline of local news.

The Florida Public Service Commission approved proposals by companies including Duke Energy and Tampa Electric.

Duke customers are expected to see increased electric bills in 2023, but the proposal would ease that rise.

Crews from 30 states have converged on Southwest Florida to restore power after Hurricane Ian devastated the area. The work is precise and dangerous.

The Public Service Commission approved the plans but expressed concerns about how the costs could impact future utility bills.