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Duke Energy Florida Commits to 700 MW of New Solar in Settlement Agreement

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Energy Advocates Applaud Efforts to Work Proactively with Stakeholders

Earlier today, Duke Energy Florida (DEF) filed a rate settlement agreement with the Florida Public Service Commission resolving a number of outstanding issues and setting rates for DEF for the next four years beginning on January 1, 2018.
In addition to the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, a number of other parties have signed on to the agreement, including the Office of Public Counsel, Florida Retail Federation, Florida Industrial Power Users Group, and PCS Phosphate.
“We applaud Duke Energy Florida for working proactively with stakeholders to embrace smart technologies that are both good for consumers and the environment,” said Dr. Stephen A. Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. “Large scale solar, electric vehicles and battery storage demonstrate that Duke is embracing technologies for the 21st century. We welcome Duke’s willingness to work with stakeholders on data collection and any rate design changes impacting customer-owned demand side solar.”
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy is pleased with the overall direction of this agreement as it will ensure:

  1. More investment in large scale solar facilities (700 megawatts);
  2. Closer collaboration with stakeholders, like SACE, on collecting data on the economic and operational benefits of customer-owned solar and related rate design issues;
  3. A commitment to grow electric vehicle infrastructure by investing $8 million for 530 outlets in its service territory;
  4. Deploying up to 50 megawatts of battery storage to support renewable energy development;
  5. Greater deployment of smart meters and will introduce Time Of Use (TOU) rates that encourage energy efficiency and customer-owned solar, and;
  6. Customers will not have to pay any further costs related the cancelled Levy County nuclear plant.

As a party to this settlement, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy will be able to enforce many of the provisions of the agreement. A petition was filed today at the Florida Public Service Commission, along with the settlement agreement, requesting approval of the agreement by the end of this year.