Draft BCC Letter to the Public Service Commission Regarding FPL's Rate Increases

Below is the draft of a letter I have written to the Florida Public Service Commission. I will bring this item to this Thursday's BCC meeting.  This is the draft of a letter I discussed with the board at our March 24th meeting and at which time I received the approval from my peers to draft for their consideration at this meeting.

This is all about the FPL rate increases and the hardship this issue is bringing to many of the citizens and businesses we serve.

This is just a draft.  My counterparts may suggest edits, revisions, or even that we not send a letter.  We will see what the discussion on this topic leads to this Thursday--at which point we will do what the majority of commissioners feel is most appropriate.  

For my part I am open to any suggestions from the board--no pride of authorship issues here at all.

Here is the draft letter and one attachement, below:

Saving the Perdido Key Palm Trees in 90 days--This Is How We're Going to Do It

There are a number of palm trees like this one in Perdido Key that have grown into the wires of the FPL poles.  So we are working a better plan now to fix this condition--- rather than sending out a team of "Paul Bunyons" to cut them all down in one day's time.

After I got a jolting, late afternoon email Thursday--I started asking a lot of questions about a plan to cut down about 70 palm trees on Perdido Key.  Literally--that was what was planned.  a team of tree cutters were going to cut them all down, all 70 of them, in one day, before March 26th.  And last Thursday was the first I was told about it.

So of course my reaction was no way!

And subsequent to my blog post on the topic blowing-up like a nuclear explosion--- I was contacted by the media and several HOA group representatives. 

Studio 850 even came out and walked the site with me and posted about it. 

Everybody is looking for a way to dramatically lower the number of trees that need to be removed.

FPL started out by sharpening their pencils and re-evaluating their list.  They have since that time sent over a revised list that has a lot fewer trees slated for removal.  The initial list from last Thursday identified 70 trees for removal, the revised list, below, has 27 trees---a reduction of 43 trees to be taken and representing a 62% reduction of what they initially planned.  That was a really encouraging development.

But I'd still like to tray and save them all.

So I've subsequently spoken to an arborist, two lawyers, our natural resources director, our county administrator, a local FPL representative, and several media outlets on this matter.

And now a plan is taking shape that will allow the county to work with the HOA's and FPL to save even more of these trees by taking the issue in three stages as follows:

1.) --allow adequate time for any HOA that wants to remove and relocate a tree flagged for removal by FPL to do so within 45 days.

2.) --allow 45 additional days for the county to remove and relocate any of these palm trees flagged for removal by FPL if the relevant HOA decides not to relocate such trees

3.) --finally, will allow for FPL to remove any palm trees left after the 90 days slated for relocation.

FPL is in the driver's seat on this issue--that's been confirmed and they have the right to remove, cut back, or clear areas where they have easements in order to protect their lines.

My site visit Friday clearly illustrated the fact that several of these trees are, indeed, tangled into the lines.

So the win win of this story is that we now all know there is an issue, we will have time to deal with the issue, and at the end of it we will save a lot of trees and FPL's lines will be clear.

Win win.

Now we just have to do it.

No WAY We Will Let Them Cut Down 70 Palm Trees on Perdido Key!!

Florida Power and Light has hatched a plan to cut down 70 palm trees at 13 locations on Perdido Key in District 1.  They'll only do this if we cannot legally stop them from doing it.  Oh, and I just found out about this yesterday afternoon at 5:00PM.  And I bet the residents don't know about this plan, either.  Yet.

NO WAY!!!!

That was my visceral reaction yesterday evening (actually that AND some choice words I've not included) ------upon hearing of Florida Power and Light's  FPL's iminent "plan" to cut down 70 trees on the right of way on perdido Key.  SEVENTY palm trees.

Not trimmed.

Not re-located.

Not re-planted with smaller palm trees.

Just cut down, unceremoniously, and hauled off.

I'm now being told they want to take even more, and are actively approaching private property owners requesting the ability to cut down many palm trees located on private property, as well.

Look, I get it that sometimes trees must be trimmed back to not interfere with transmission lines---we all understand that.  But to just say you're going to send out a group of lumberjacks on ONE day, and in this ONE day remove 70 trees without any kind of discussion over it first--yeah, that's not going to happen if the county has any legal means at its disposal to stop this.

I'm awaiting additional information--including any such legal means the county may have at it's disposal to prevent this action from occurring.  below is a part of some of a very nonchalant, matter of fact email chain I received from staff describing what apparently was just about to happen------late yesterday afternoon....

"Below is a list of addresses and tree count proposed for removal.  This work has to be complete by 3.26.22 (funding constraints).  They intend to start and complete the work in 1 (one) day."

Commissioner,

 FPL will be doing maintenance on Perdido Key Drive which involves taking down palm trees.... see specific addresses below.  These trees are in the public ROW.  FPL was also going to approach folks at the addresses to see if they could address any other trees which are hindering the lines...but they do have a deadline of 3/26/22.

Florida Power and Light Representatives Speak at Last Night's D1 Townhall in Beulah

Although it is an issue that the Board of County Commissioners does not control--I know citizens are frustrated and concerned about the rate hikes from Florida Power and Light.  I've received irate (and that is the censored version) phone calls and emails from constituents I serve wanting answers and information.  

So I invited representatives from Florida Power and Light to attend last night's District 1 townhall in Beulah.  And Rick Byars, Becca Boles, and Sandy Sims from Florida Power and Light came and discussed this very issue at length with the citizens and staff who attended the town hall.

For those who missed the event or who are interested in seeing the questions and answers, the video of the town hall is linked, below.  (FPL rate discussion begins at minute 35:00)

What has Escambia County Collected in Franchise Fees from the County's Electric Utility Provider over the Last 5 Years?

 

	Actuals	Actuals	Actuals	Actuals	Actuals
General Fund:	FY21	FY20	FY19	FY18	FY17
Electric Franchise Fee	12,303,490.47	11,998,982.63	11,813,944.03	11,877,215.44	11,353,718.47

In light of everyone's Florida Power and Light (FPL) bill increasing--some have asked what  Escambia County collects in the way of franchise fees from this, the county's energy provider.  Over the last five years, as illustrated in the chart above, it is about $12 million per year.  This money goes into our general fund which pays for a LOT of the county's operations.

With a barrage of emails complaining about the FPL power increases and the stories of bills doubling and tripling in some cases, it is important to know this information.   Because I am getting emails like this:

"My power bill jumped from 160 to 292 in 1 month I went back and checked my power bill in January has been a little over 200 till this year upon going back and looking at my old bills I had never been charged something called a Fuel Charge and it was 67.45 what are the people of this county supposed to do allow Florida Power to do what they want when they want I'm confined to a hospital bed living on limited income has escambia county become a prisoner to a utility service that our county commissioners should have a say in thank you for listening..after spending over a hour with Florida Power today I learned you are charged one rate for 1000 kilowatt hours or less but when you go over the 1000kw hrs your charged 22% more for your power but nobody seems to answer why this is what difference does it make if I use 1000kw hrs or 3000kw hrs shouldn't everyone pay the same amount for power some things just aren't fair"

And I am sure my peers on the board are getting these sorts of emails as well.

According to the county attorney, our portion of the bill is based upon the size of the user's bill--and capped at a maximum of $10.00 per billing cycle.  In other words--our franchise fee is not the culprit responsible for these bills going through the roof.  According to Alison Rogers, the attorney for the board, the current agreement in force is some 30 years old.  A previous iteration of the Escambia  Board of County Commissioners attempted to update the agreement in 2012, but the vote to approve a new agreement failed by a 2-3 vote at that time.

I am certain this topic will be discussed at some point in our meeting tomorrow morning.  I also plan on having a representative from Florida Power and Light come to my town hall on Tuesday--I have made the invitation and am waiting a confirmation of his attendance.

What's the Deal with the Power Bills Going Through the Roof?

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"