Florida Residents Speak Out: Public Service Commission Faces Rate Increase Hearings

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Posted by Eileen Stewart June 13, 2024
Florida Residents Speak Out Public Service Commission Faces Rate Increase Hearings
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This week, consumers are being heard by Florida’s Public Service Commission on planned rate increases from Duke Energy and Tampa Electric, or TECO.

Environmentalists spoke out mostly against Duke Energy’s planned rate increase, which did not include a push toward renewable energy sources, during Wednesday’s PSC hearing in Inverness.

Many customers opposed the hike outside the meeting for financial reasons, which is another “green” argument.

“You know, the way things are right now with inflation and things like that, you know it’s not a great thing right now,” customer Junior Strothe stated.

Public meetings are being held by state regulators. A base rate hike that could cost the typical customer hundreds of dollars annually is what both Duke Energy and TECO are requesting.

“The economy is so horrible,” customer Jo Brown stated. “The prices of gas, the prices of food, the utilities. The rent. The mortgage. The insurance, everything is outrageous. So, this just adds to the fire.”

It’s difficult to time this. Due to the heat in some parts of the country, two consumer groups recently discovered that power rates have already increased by almost 8% this year.

Customers’ debt to their electricity providers, known as utility consumer debt, increased by almost 20% to $20.3 billion last year as they attempted to reconcile record heat and rising prices. According to the study, around one in six American households, or 16%, are behind on their electricity bills.

“When you cut the lights off, you do less laundry, you even turn the air off when it’s a hundred and something degrees outside, it’s just ridiculous,” consumer Vicky Eady said.

Ana Gibbs, a spokesperson with Duke Energy stated that, “We understand that there are customers who may be facing financial hardships.”

Attending the hearings, Gibbs said the utility offers free energy assessments and payment plans as helpful initiatives.

“And there are programs that help with that financial assistance that can literally help pay that bill for customers who just don’t have the financial means at this time to be able to make that bill payment,” Gibbs stated.

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In Largo, at the Parks & Conservation Resources Administration headquarters, there was another hearing with much more attendees.

Some, like Ted Andresen, describe the base rate hikes that are being considered as “absurd,” citing concerns about the potential effects on low-income neighborhoods. Nearly every consumer who spoke at the session voiced criticism of Duke Energy.

According to Gibbs, Duke Energy anticipates a decrease in overall bills following the expiration of certain items, such as the 2022 fuel-under recovery, storm restoration cost recovery, and legacy purchased power contracts, even with the base rate hikes.

Some, like Andresen, however, stated that they don’t agree with the demands’ reasoning.

Duke Energy clients were to attend a second hearing in Largo later in the day. Customers of TECO are welcome to speak on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the HCC Brandon Campus located on Nancy Watkins Drive.

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Eileen Stewart
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With more than two years of expertise in news and analysis, Eileen Stewart is a seasoned reporter. Eileen is a respected voice in this field, well-known for her sharp reporting and insightful analysis. Her writing covers a wide range of subjects, from politics to culture and more.