Folks are calling, folks are emailing.
Everyone is pissed off about their power bills going up. Come to think of it---I am, too!
But some people think I am responsible for this, which I am not. I got this email recently:
"If
I'm not mistaken, you voted for the rate hikes. My bill just doubled. It was
reported on Wear that it would mean about a seventeen dollar hike. Seems the
board has some explaining and over charges to pay for. District 1 needs to
change the butt seating in the seat.
Sent from my LG Mobile"
Here was another:
"Sir,
I hope you are aware of the suffering Many residents are experiencing related to FPL increases. My own bill doubled ove $200 and according to there app I am using $12+ electric daily times days in month unsustainable. There are many right now sitting in cold homes heat switchrd off some even in dark fearing next FPL bill. Nothing has changed in my home I have lived In over 30 years yet my last bill doubled Please sir help the citizen's and seriously look into FPL billing and practices. I am reading of folks now recieving notice cut off electric."
Folks are mad and they want relief.
I've called both area state representatives and our state senator on this issue specifically. They are in session, they are busy. I heard back from one of the three who told me:
"Jeff, there is nothing we can do. Under statutes the power company must be permitted to make a profit. The costs for natural gas have doubled over the last two years, and this is the reason the bills are going up. Green energy initiatives at the federal level cost us locally---we're not set up for green energy--we are set up for fossil fuels. This is why the bills are going up"
10 comments:
Trying to be energy independent was/is good policy. Biden shutting down pipelines is bad.
I think appealing to Florida Public service commission would be more effective although FPL is installing solar and underground service in places. I think they did pull sometching in the legislature to make it harder for individuals on solar.
We had a Gree, through the wall heat pump installed for the bedroom this summer. High efficiency. It runs on 110v. Original idea was for emergency use with a generator but started adjusting the central unit way out of range and just cooling and heating one room for the most part and our bill went down. Of course it was an investment up front.
One can search and find the newsrelease Oct 26, 2021 that FPL had unanimous approval for the four year rate increase from the PSC and it is to buy land for solar energy farm build out to take Florida to a more sustainable energy production. It is for a Hydrogen pilot project. They had 12 hearings and numerous testimonies .. 100000 pages of documents and they write about climate change and resiliency They actually get the natural gas from SW Alabama for other projects but the cost has increased in 2021. It is on their webpage under newsroom. Not their first rodeo. They are planning for the future and closing another coal generating facility also.
Commissioner Bergosh, of course it's unfortunate that people think you voted for a rate hike.
That's the problem when you guys keep your head in the sand on a hot button issue with the excuse that it's not your lane, you can't do anything, don't blame it on us...there is a big leadership vacuum in Escambia County lately because the BOCC seems unwilling to tackle some of the worst challenges that this community is facing, just because it isn't decided by a line item on a BOCC agenda.
We're still your constituents. We still need your leadership. County residents shouldn't have to count on the City Council to fight our battles for us, but that's where we're at right now with some key issues.
Meanwhile, while single moms were begging for relief from their power getting turned off because of astronomical bill hikes at the City Council meeting last night, our Senator Doug Broxson's priority was holding a fundraiser for Escambia D2 commissioner candidate Kevin Brown in Tallahassee--with Senators Passidomo (Collier), Baxley (Lake County), and Gruters (Hillsborough) willing to shill as hosts of the fundraiser for the future head of appropriations.
This ought to put the kibosh on any lingering questions about just how badly Broxson wants a tool for Commissioner of District 2 so he can more effectively wage war against home rule and, in particular, the BOCC (along with their allies Downtown), aided and abetted by the rest of his autocratic cronies in the legislature.
And people say I exaggerate how utterly morally bankrupt the Florida GOP has become...
We get it. They're ruthless autocrats. You guys still need to find your spines, stick up to them, and at least try to help your consituents. "NOPE"--Not Our Problem Everyone--isn't a great look.
I mean, really. Don't be like Broxson:
https://weartv.com/news/local/florida-senator-claims-florida-power-light-has-every-right-to-raise-rates
"There's not really much he can do." Sounds about like when he was Deep Stating for FDOT while our bridges were down.
When are people going to have had enough of this? Oh, that's right. Nobody's running against him. Because the electorate apparently just can't get enough of the job he's doing.
Oh, and he's going to be head of appropriations. So nobody wants to mess with him, right? We'll just let him shill for a robber barron who is skyrocketing people's bills unexpectedly in the middle of a cold snap. Is that the plan?
Broxson gave the correct answer.
If people can't afford children they should not have them, especially out of wedlock. That's why I still think abortion should be an option however birth control is readily available but accidents happen.
Crying to the City was not going to solve anything. They allow it to dispel all the lefty loonies.
They might spend a wasted 20K just to shut cry babies up for awhile until they solve their own problems.
There is no way Pensacola can produce electricity reliably.
It is also not the place for government to house people, that is their responsibility.
People do no want to hear the truth from an elected official and often a successful one will not tell them the truth because of that.
Many successful people do not want more government by people under the misunderstanding that the government is supposed to take care of people. Reminds me of the old company boss days or the plantation mentality. If they keep on with this attitude we will be one party socialism and the end of freedom of choice and property ownership.
Often toddlers and children are under this impression by we would all do better if people will grow up and stop whining and crying and do something about their own condition.
This type of attitude and thought process is why Pino needs no place of leadership and government.
If Keven Brown gets the spot, it's OK with me and it is good he has a direct line to the senator on the appropriations committee.
Someone with such a heart for the ones less fortunate has a place but it's not in government.
Back to the post, I think there billing practices are different. Perhaps people would like the smart meters and adjust their own habits to lower energy usage.
I do think we need to move from fossil fuel and it is happening but you don't snap fingers and make it happen and even batteries and arrays have environmental impact.
I don't think people will stop using energy.
Part I
It was already appealed at the FL supreme court. Plan accordingly.
People cry about climate change and then when a company does something about it they cry and hold signs and vote against their own self interest anyway.
http://newsroom.fpl.com/2021-10-26-PSC-unanimously-approves-FPLs-four-year-rate-settlement-agreement,-keeping-bills-low-and-accelerating-U-S-s-largest-solar-buildout
Here is the news release. In part. They also have a clause at the end, I didn't read but in laymans language, it probably say "tough shit"
"The approved agreement, which was also signed by Vote Solar, The CLEO Institute and Federal Executive Agencies, will phase in new rates starting in 2022 and supports continued long-term investments in infrastructure, clean energy and innovative technology – including the largest solar buildout in the United States. FPL projects typical residential customer bills will remain well below the national average through the end of 2025.
"Backed by multiple consumer and environmental groups, this comprehensive agreement benefits all 5.6 million FPL customers and our state by keeping bills low and accelerating investments in clean energy," said FPL President and CEO Eric Silagy. "Florida is a rapidly growing state on the front lines of climate change and our customers deserve bold, decisive, long-term actions as we continue building a more resilient and sustainable energy future all of us can depend on, including future generations. This agreement paves the way for FPL to continue delivering America's best energy value – electricity that's not just clean and reliable, but also affordable."
FPL's new four-year rate plan directly supports the company's groundbreaking "30-by-30" plan to install 30 million solar panels in Florida by 2030, which remains ahead of schedule and under budget. In doing so, the agreement will also expand the company's highly popular FPL SolarTogetherTM program – more than doubling what's already the largest community solar program in the country across an FPL service area that spans from Miami to Pensacola(1). In all, the approved settlement agreement supports the development of 16 million solar panels across more than 50 new sites – enough to power approximately 1 million homes with clean, emissions-free energy from the sun.
Part II
I think part one went through.
http://newsroom.fpl.com/2021-10-26-PSC-unanimously-approves-FPLs-four-year-rate-settlement-agreement,-keeping-bills-low-and-accelerating-U-S-s-largest-solar-buildout
Continued
"In addition to solar energy, the approved agreement supports FPL's green hydrogen pilot project in Okeechobee County, an innovative technology that could one day unlock 100% carbon-free electricity that's available 24 hours a day, as well as the FPL Manatee Energy Storage Center, the world's largest integrated solar-powered battery system that's projected to begin serving customers later this year. The agreement also supports investments in resilient infrastructure projects as FPL continues building a stronger and smarter energy grid to deliver reliable service in good weather and bad.
Other components of the approved agreement:
Promote and support expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure throughout FPL's service area.
Support the early closing of a coal unit located in Georgia, in which FPL has a partial interest.
Support FPL's ongoing efforts to develop and deploy cutting-edge smart grid technology.
Continue to support FPL's ability to respond to hurricanes, tropical storms and other natural disasters.
The unanimous PSC decision is the culmination of the customary, nearly year-long process of reviewing and setting new electric base rates. This included 12 public hearings in June and July, as well as FPL's production and filing of nearly 100,000 pages of documents, including direct and rebuttal testimony, depositions under oath, and responses to thousands of discovery requests from PSC staff and intervening parties. During a public PSC hearing in September, a panel of FPL witnesses provided sworn testimony and responded to questions regarding the rate agreement.
So did bill's increase by over 2.8%?
I'm sure the fuel cost IS the reason it is more than 2.8%. Broxson gave the correct answer in part.
Also it is great K Brown will have ways to get the Triumph GC $ opened up and Bear on that board. D2 may not vote him in though, Some chatter that they want another hot head navy sailor that runs or somebody they ate at their restaurant and is their neighbor. Makes no sense but that is how small minded people think. Kinda like the dems and supreme court pick. Seems like they would want someone to uphold constitutional law but obviously that doesn't matter.
Broxson is fine. I don't care if they were having a fundraiser for him. Maybe they have a good plan in the works for Warrington and the Navy base.
If people don't want electricity, I guess they are free to do something else. 🤷
Plus of note Scott appointed three of the commissioners and DeSantis two on the PSC, if the truth matters.
I hope Scott runs for President in 2024 and wins.
Funny how when they try to do something for economic development and environment people still blame and complain.
Wonder what is going on with the Gulf Coast gas and oil leases.
Everything effects everything.
The worst thing to happen to the Office of Public Counsel was the retirement of J.R. Kelly. I support term limits for ALL publicly held positions but I would have made an exception for Kelly. I truly believe he had the consumer's best interest at heart and would have fought hard against what FP&L has done. He always did. His replacement, Richard Gentry, is a former Lobbyist and I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him. FP&L is bad business and always has been. You guys remember Amendment 1 in 2016, right? 'nuff said!
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