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PSC Transfers Vero Beach Electric Utility Customers, Rates Will Be Lower

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Customers who currently are served by the City of Vero Beach’s municipal electric utility may see a 21 percent decrease in their bills after the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) today decided Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) should serve them.

The Commission directed FPL to charge customers in the added territory the same rates it charges its existing customers, which would result in an approximately $27 decrease on a typical 1,000 kWh monthly residential bill.

The decisions would go into effect only if the utilities close on their Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA) in which FPL would acquire Vero Beach’s electric utility assets and operations.

“Vero Beach customers will see many benefits from this acquisition, including lower rates, access to energy efficiency programs, and increased service reliability,” said Commissioner Gary F. Clark, adding “This Commission has always used the public interest as the measuring stick for its decisions, and today’s decision will have no adverse impact to existing FPL customers.”

The Vero Beach utility has approximately 35,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the City of Vero Beach, a portion of the Town of Indian River Shores, and part of unincorporated Indian River County.  In today’s PSC meeting, several of those consumers and their elected officials asked the Commission to make them FPL customers.

The PSC does not have direct authority over changes in electric utility ownership, but changes in service territories and the rates that are charged require Commission approval.

FPL requested recognition for future ratemaking purposes of its investment of $116.2 million above the value of the assets it will acquire, and a majority of the Commission agreed.  

Under the PSA terms, FPL will purchase the Vero Beach utility system for $185 million by December 31, 2018.  FPL serves 4.9 million customer accounts across Florida.

For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.

PSC Reduces Florida Power & Light Customer Bills

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The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) voted to reduce bills for Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) customers today, approving reductions to its 2018 capacity and environmental cost recovery rate components to comply with the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act.

As a result of the Act, which lowered the corporate federal income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, some of FPL’s projected costs are now overstated. The PSC uses “mid-course corrections” to revise recovery rates when a deviation from expected costs warrants it. FPL’s capacity cost recovery component will be reduced by $0.23 per month, and its environmental cost recovery factor will decrease by $0.36 per month for a typical residential customer.

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Florida PSC Commission Conference on Tuesday

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The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will hold a Commission Conference on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at 9:30 a.m. Items scheduled for consideration can be found here. Public comment may be taken on any item noticed for public participation.

The Commission Conference is scheduled for the following time and location:

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

9:30 a.m.

Betty Easley Conference Center

Joseph P. Cresse Hearing Room (Room 148)

4075 Esplanade Way

Tallahassee, Florida

 

The Commission Conference will be broadcast on the Florida Channel (check your local listing) and is available online athtpp://www.floridapsc.com/ (look for the Watch Live Broadcast” icon on the left side of the webpage).

For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.

Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.

Florida PSC Approves Rate Case Settlement for Gulf Power Company

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Assured that Gulf Power Company (Gulf or Company) customers will have stable, diverse, and reliable service, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) today approved a settlement agreement on the utility’s rate petition. The settlement was signed by Gulf; the Office of Public Counsel, who represents all ratepayers; the Florida Industrial Power Users Group; and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. No other party to the case objected.
In the settlement, Gulf agreed to a one-time $32.5 million write-down of its ownership costs for Plant Scherer, reducing the expense to be recovered from ratepayers. The plant is jointly owned by Gulf and its sister company, Georgia Power; both utilities are Southern Company subsidiaries. Gulf also agreed to continue a moratorium on financial hedging for natural gas purchases until January 2021.
Gulf had originally requested additional revenues of $106 million and a return on equity of 11 percent. The settlement provides Gulf with recovery of an additional $62 million in revenues and maintains its return on equity at the current 10.25 percent. New customer rates will take effect on July 1, 2017.
A five-year pilot program for electric vehicle charging facilities is allowed in the settlement. Program costs and revenues will be included in Gulf’s quarterly surveillance reports to the PSC, but will not impact customers’ bills.
Gulf filed its petition for a base rate increase with the PSC on October 12, 2016. The PSC held customer service hearings on January 26, 2017 in Pensacola and on January 27, 2017 in Panama City. Gulf currently provides electric service to more than 450,000 retail customers in eight Florida counties.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.

Florida PSC Urges Residents to Call 811 Before You Dig

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Spring marks the start of home improvement projects for many Floridians. Whether that includes building a deck in the backyard or planting a tree,  before you get that shovel out, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) urges you to “call 811 before you dig!”
“April is National Safe Digging Month and since safety is a top PSC priority, we fully support this annual campaign,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “A free call to 811 before any digging project will help avoid injury, damage expense, as well as a possible interruption of electric, internet, or phone service.”
An 811 call, which is the federally designated call-before-you-dig number, notifies affected utility companies to dispatch crews to mark the location of underground utility lines.  Utility markings show those who dig the approximate location of underground lines to help prevent damage to vital utilities.
In Florida, 811 is open for calls from 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday and is managed by the Sunshine State One Call Center, a nonprofit corporation. Residents are urged to call 811 two full business days before beginning their digging project.
For more information on the 811 campaign, supported by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, visit www.call811.com  or access the PSC’s Consumer Tip, 8-1-1 Know What’s Below.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.

Fix a Leak Week: PSC Offers Easy Repairs to Save Water and Money

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Are you ready to chase down leaks? Household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide, equaling the water use of more than 11 million homes. Joining with the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) reminds consumers to “hunt down the drips” during Fix a Leak Week 2017, March 20-26.

Sponsored by EPA’s WaterSense program, the ninth annual Fix a Leak Week encourages consumers to find and fix household leaks to save valuable water and money. Ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons of water per day. If left unrepaired, these leaks waste more than 30,000 gallons a year, enough water to wash more than 800 loads of laundry!

“Add finding and fixing leaks to your spring cleaning to-do list,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “The PSC makes the hunt for leaks both inside and outside your home easier with our Drop by Drop brochure. A few simple repairs can save water and reduce your utility bill year round.”

According to the EPA, fixing water leaks can lower your water bill by more than 10 percent. Here are some easy repairs for common household leaks:

  1. CHECK toilets for silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank to see if the color appears in the bowl before you flush. Don’t forget to check irrigation systems and spigots, too.
  2. TWIST and tighten pipe connections. To save even more water without a noticeable difference in flow, twist in a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator or showerhead.
  3. REPLACE the fixture if necessary. Look for the WaterSense label when replacing plumbing fixtures, which signifies the product has been certified to save water and perform well.

Find more information on Fix a Leak Week here.

For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.

Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.

PSC Helps Consumers in Hallandale Beach During National Consumer Protection Week

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The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will be educating consumers about scams targeting utility customers during the 19th Annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), which takes place March 5–11, 2017.
On Thursday, March 9, 2017, as part of NCPW, PSC staff will be speaking with customers in Hallandale Beach about how to avoid these scams while also providing tips on energy and water conservation and information about the Lifeline Assistance telephone discount program.
For more information about NCPW and to see a nationwide calendar of events, please visit www.ncpw.gov. For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
The PSC events are scheduled below:

Thursday, March 9, 2017
10 – 11 a.m.
Austin Hepburn Senior Center
1000 NW 8th Avenue
Hallandale Beach, Florida 33009

Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.

Florida PSC Commission Conference on Tuesday

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The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will hold a Commission Conference on Tuesday, March 7, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. Items scheduled for consideration can be found here. Public comment may be taken on any item noticed for public participation.
The Commission Conference is scheduled for the following time and location:

Tuesday, March 7, 2017
9:30 a.m.
Betty Easley Conference Center
Joseph P. Cresse Hearing Room (Room 148)
4075 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, Florida

The Commission Conference will be broadcast on the Florida Channel (check your local listing) and is available online at htpp://www.floridapsc.com/ (look for the Watch Live Broadcast” icon on the left side of the webpage).
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.

PSC Helps Consumers in Winter Springs During National Consumer Protection Week

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The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will be educating consumers about scams targeting utility customers during the 19th Annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), which takes place March 5–11, 2017.
On Tuesday, March 7, 2017, as part of NCPW, PSC staff will be speaking with customers in Winter Springs about how to avoid these scams while also providing tips on energy and water conservation and information about the Lifeline Assistance telephone discount program.
For more information about NCPW and to see a nationwide calendar of events, please visit www.ncpw.gov. For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
The PSC events are scheduled below:

Tuesday, March 7, 2017
10 – 11 a.m.
Winter Springs Senior Center
400 N. Edgemon Avenue
Winter Springs, Florida 32708

Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.

PSC Approves Settlement Agreement for Peoples Gas System

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The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) today approved a Settlement Agreement offered by Peoples Gas System (Peoples Gas or Company) and the Office of Public Counsel (OPC), who represents Peoples Gas customers, that keeps base rates in place through 2020.

“The Settlement Agreement protects customers from any base rate increase through 2020,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown.  “It also provides an opportunity for Peoples Gas to manage some critical projects, such as the environmental cleanup of its manufactured gas plants and replacement of plastic pipes.”

The Settlement Agreement stemmed from Peoples Gas’ original petition for approval of its 2016 Depreciation Study. OPC filed its response, proposing further adjustments to Peoples Gas depreciation rates. On December 15, 2016, Peoples Gas and OPC filed a Settlement Agreement outlining how their proposed adjustment of depreciation rates and modification to the Company’s return on equity would occur.  With the PSC’s approval, the agreement allows for the following terms:

  • Peoples Gas will not file a request for a general base rate proceeding before December 31, 2020, unless its earnings fall below 9.25 percent.
  • Establishes new depreciation rates and certain depreciation reserve transfers that are expected to result in a reduction in 2016 depreciation expense of $16.1 million.
  • Accelerates recovery of environmental cleanup and monitoring costs associated with former manufactured gas plants–old industrial facilities at which gas was produced from coal, oil, and other feedstocks. 
  • Expands Peoples Gas’ current accelerated cast iron and bare steel pipe replacement program to include “problematic plastic pipe” replacements,  which includes certain types of plastic pipe that was manufactured before 1983 and which have been found to become brittle under certain conditions.

Peoples Gas, Florida’s largest natural gas distribution utility, serves about 370,000 customers in Florida.

For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.

Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.