Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineMay 3, 2018

Large electric customers and local governments complained about communications meltdowns and urged large-scale “undergrounding” of Florida’s electric infrastructure during the second day of Public Service Commission workshops about hurricane preparedness and restoration. Public Counsel J.R. Kelly seconded the motion regarding the communications problems during and following Hurricane Irma, when customer calls crashed utilities public information switchboards […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 3, 2018

Ronald A. Brisé, the former state utility regulator denied a third term by Gov. Rick Scott, now is joining the Gunster law firm as a government affairs consultant. The news was shared first with Florida Politics. Brisé will join his former Public Service Commission (PSC) colleague Lila Jaber, now Gunster’s Regional Managing Shareholder. He will be based in the Tallahassee and […]

Drew WilsonDecember 29, 2017

Duke Energy and Tampa Electric Company asked the Public Service Commission this week to approve plans that would allow them to pass to ratepayers more than $600 million in costs related to Hurricane Irma and other storms. Duke Energy’s proposal would see the company collect $513 million from customers, who would see their average bill […]

Ana CeballosDecember 4, 2017

After Republican state Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto publicly accused Ritch Workman, a Gov. Rick Scott appointee to the Public Service Commission, of making vulgar and inappropriate comments to her at a charity event last year, he said Monday he is no longer pursuing his nomination. “At a public charity event in 2016, former Rep. Ritch Workman […]

Mitch PerryApril 4, 2017

Legislation that would bring new measures of accountability to Florida’s Public Service Commission passed a House Committee on Tuesday. Pinellas Republican Kathleen Peters’s bill (HB 7071) would create performance-based incentives for utilities by rating their reliability, customer service, power plant performance and costs. It also would bar lawmakers from serving on the commission within six years of […]

Michael MolineApril 4, 2017

The Public Service Commission bestowed its blessings Tuesday upon a rate settlement that will allow Gulf Power Co. to raise prices by nearly $62 million per year, but give the utility less of a return on investment than it wanted. Gulf Power originally sought to charge its customers in Northwest Florida an additional $106.8 million. “I […]

Michael MolineMarch 20, 2017

Gulf Power Co. will settle for nearly $62 million per year in increased rates for its customers in Northwest Florida, rather than the $106.8 million it had planned to seek from the Public Service Commission, the parties announced Monday. The deal would guarantee the utility a return on investment to Gulf Power’s stockholders averaging 10.25 […]

Michael MolineAugust 22, 2016

The Florida Public Service Commission opened hearings Monday on Florida Power & Light Co.’s request for nearly $1.3 billion in rate increases during the next three years, with an array of customers on hand to oppose the hikes. The increases are “unprecedented and unwarranted,” said Patricia Christensen of the Office of Public Counsel, which represents […]

Mitch PerryAugust 28, 2015

While the nation’s media will focus quite correctly this weekend on the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina hitting New Orleans, anyone remember Hurricane Isaac? (Let’s not even talk about Erika). That was the storm that forced the cancellation of the first day of the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa three years ago, making today the third […]

Mitch PerryAugust 27, 2015

The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved a settlement agreement previously negotiated between Florida Power & Light (FPL) and the Office of Public Counsel. FPL ratepayers will pay $520.5 million to purchase and then phase out the Cedar Bay Generating coal-fired power plant in Jacksonville, located near the St. John’s River. “As we continue to […]

Tag: PSC

Customers clamor for ‘undergrounding’ during PSC storm-hardening workshop

Personnel note: Ronald A. Brisé joins Gunster

Ratepayers could be on the hook for millions due to Hurricane Irma

Rick Scott appointee steps down after state Senator accuses him of ‘abhorrent’ behavior

Bill to reform public utilities advances in House committee

PSC approves $62 million rate compromise for Gulf Power Co.

Settlement reached in Gulf Power’s bid for $106.8 million base rate increase

PSC opens hearings on FPL rate hike

Mitch Perry Report for 8.28.15 – GOP convention memories

FPL gains OK to purchase, close coal-fired plant in Jacksonville