BRADENTON – Florida Power & Light asked the Public Service Commission on Friday to allow them to raise rates on 4.8 million Florida customers. The increase would amount to 23.7 percent by the year 2019, for a $1.3 billion jump in all.
FPL says that while it has delivered stable and low-cost power to customers since its last rate increase (2009), it is necessary to again charge customers more in order to offset increases in expenses and accommodate population growth in the state.
"We are committed to delivering our customers exceptional value for their money and will continue to make smart investments that will further improve service for customers and help keep costs down,'' said Eric Silagy, FPL president and CEO, in a press release.
The increase would lock in base rates for four years, raising customer bills around $13 a month over that time.
Meanwhile, FPL has spent over $3.4 million in campaign funds to fight the solar industry on a proposed constitutional amendment that would have opened the door to a competitive solar market in Florida.
The dubiously-titled, utility-funded group Consumers for Smart Solar was successful in keeping Floridians for Solar Choice from getting the ballot referendum approved, though the alliance said that it will now focus on 2018.
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