PSC Formally Responds to Escambia BCC's Letter on FPL Rate Increases

I received the below response late yesterday morning to our letter sent to the PSC earlier this month on the topic of FPL's recent rate hikes......

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:

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'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"