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 […]

Scott PowersNovember 14, 2017

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham wants to put a stop to Florida utility ratepayers paying for nuclear power plants that were never built or which never worked, or for paying for fracking exploration in Florida. The former congresswoman from Tallahassee went nuclear Tuesday denouncing the 2006 law that allowed Florida investor-owned utility companies to charge […]

Scott PowersOctober 10, 2017

Florida’s private utility companies have donated nearly $800,000 to support Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam‘s political committee seeking to get him elected governor, and also have donated another $1.8 million that may have been re-directed to him through other political committees. A review of campaign finance data available through the Florida Division of Elections shows that […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 20, 2017

The chair of the state’s Public Service Commission, which regulates investor-owned utilities, says her board also has started “thinking” about how it can help get power back on quicker after major storms. Julie I. Brown released a statement Wednesday morning, more than a week after Hurricane Irma knocked out electricity to millions of Florida homes […]

Scott PowersAugust 8, 2017

State Rep. Bob Cortes is speaking out about a rate hike approved by the Public Service Commission last week. The Altamont Springs Republican believes the hike will double water and sewer rates for western Seminole County residents. “This decision, which doubles rates for western Seminole residents, demonstrates that the Public Service Commission is not standing […]

Associated PressMarch 16, 2017

Military spending would get the biggest boost in President Donald Trump’s proposed budget. Environmental programs, medical research, Amtrak and an array of international and cultural programs — from Africa to Appalachia — would take big hits, among the many parts of the government he’d put on a crash diet. The budget proposal out Thursday is […]

Associated PressNovember 9, 2016

He felt it in the breeze. Nearing the end of his long, improbable journey to victory in the presidential race, Donald Trump, the candidate of so much tumult and bluster, waxed nostalgic about how he got there. “I had great parents, great parents,” Trump told the crowd at a rally in steamy Orlando, Florida. “I […]

Drew WilsonAugust 10, 2016

Florida added 16,400 private sector jobs last month, according to a report released Wednesday by payroll company ADP. The report estimates 1,800 new jobs were added in the goods-producing sector, with the other 14,600 jobs heading to the service industry. The industry breakdown shows 5,100 jobs added in professional and business services companies; 2,800 in […]

Staff ReportsJuly 29, 2016

Consumer sentiment among Floridians increased in July to 93.7, according to the latest University of Florida consumer survey. This reading is four points higher than June’s revised figure of 89.7, turning upward after three straight months of declines and marking the second-highest reading over the past year. Of the five components that make up the […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 10, 2016

The House Appropriations Committee Wednesday approved a bill seeking to shift the cost of relocating utility lines for infrastructure improvements from utilities to public entities. In some cases, the costs would be absorbed by the Florida Department of Transportation. According to LobbyTools, HB 461, filed by Pensacola Republican Rep. Clay Ingram, came after an opinion […]

Tag: utilities

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

Gwen Graham goes nuclear over recovery fees, fracking fees

Utility companies have contributed $800K, while funneling as much as $2.5M through committees, to Adam Putnam’s campaign

PSC enters hurricane readiness debate

Bob Cortes blasts Public Service Commission for Seminole water rate hike

Winners and losers in Donald Trump’s first budget plan

Donald Trump rides chutzpah to victory in presidential race

Florida adds 16,400 jobs in July, new ADP report says

Florida consumer sentiment up in July, reversing a three-month slide

House committee approves bill shifting costs to move utility lines for infrastructure projects