The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will hold a Commission Conference on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, at 9:30 a.m. Items scheduled for consideration can be found here. [Read more…] about Florida PSC Commission Conference on Tuesday
Florida Public Service Commission
PSC Reports Consumer Renewables Increase 50 Percent
According to electric utility reports filed with the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC), customer-owned renewable generation increased 51 percent in 2017. Renewable system interconnections totaled 24,157 last year, as opposed to 15,994 interconnections in 2016. [Read more…] about PSC Reports Consumer Renewables Increase 50 Percent
Flynn Management Corporation Receives PSC’s Triple E Award
A Clearwater firm specializing in affordable rural housing also has expertise in using energy more affordably. Their successful energy efficiency efforts have earned Flynn Management Corporation the Florida Public Service Commission’s (PSC) 2018 second quarter Triple E Award. [Read more…] about Flynn Management Corporation Receives PSC’s Triple E Award
Broward County’s Volen Center Named PSC Helping Hand
Together We Make Community Happen is The Volen Center’s mission, and they are helping many Broward County senior adults take charge of their lives with year-round educational programs. As a participant in the Center’s recent Older Americans Month event, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is recognizing The Volen Center as its second 2018 Helping Hand. [Read more…] about Broward County’s Volen Center Named PSC Helping Hand
PSC to Consider Report on Electric Utility Hurricane Preparedness and Restoration Actions
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will consider a draft report on Electric Utility Hurricane Preparedness and Restoration Actions at its Internal Affairs meeting on Tuesday, June 19. Following months of data analysis, including a two-day workshop, the draft report identifies potential areas for further reducing outages and restoration times. [Read more…] about PSC to Consider Report on Electric Utility Hurricane Preparedness and Restoration Actions
PSC Reduces Florida Power & Light Customer Bills
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.
[Read more…] about PSC Reduces Florida Power & Light Customer Bills
PSC Assists Seniors During May’s Older Americans Month
Each May, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) joins in the nationwide Older Americans Month (OAM) celebration. Established to recognize older Americans’ contributions to their communities, OAM is also an opportunity for the PSC to assist seniors with their utility services.
“In our state, we’re proud to serve more than 5.3 million elders, and we help them stay informed about their utility services and keep aware of utility-related scams,” said PSC Chairman Art Graham. “Rest assured, the PSC protects seniors year-round, not just in May.”
PSC representatives traveled the state this month visiting older Floridians to distribute and discuss water and energy conservation information, assist eligible seniors in applying for the Lifeline Assistance telephone/broadband discount program, and offer protection tips against scams targeting utility customers.
This year’s OAM theme, Engage at Every Age, emphasizes the importance of being active and involved—no matter age or abilities. With a higher elder population, Florida is evidence of the contributions and engagement of people 60 and older. A group of active seniors from the Tallahassee Senior Center recently helped the PSC offer practical energy-saving tips, based on their earlier life experiences “without air-conditioning.” Here is the link to their presentation.
If you’re interested in the PSC visiting a senior center near you next May for Older Americans Month, or for future events, call the PSC’s Office of Consumer Assistance & Outreach at 850-413-6482.
About Older Americans Month
Since 1963, communities and agencies across the state and the nation have joined in the annual Older American Month commemoration. The tradition shows the state’s commitment to celebrating the contributions and achievements of older Florida residents. For more information visit, oam.acl.gov.
PSC Commissioner Brown Appointed to NARUC/DOE Partnership
Florida Public Service Commissioner (PSC) Julie Brown has been appointed to the Natural Gas Infrastructure Modernization Partnership (NGIMP) between the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Because of Commissioner Brown’s work on the national level and state regulatory experience, NARUC President John Betkoski III appointed her to the NGIMP. She will assist State Commissions’ efforts in exploring investments in natural gas infrastructure modernization and improving the U.S. natural gas pipeline infrastructure.
“As we continue to do in Florida, it is imperative to identify new technologies and cost-effective practices for enhancing pipeline safety, efficiency, and deliverability,” said Commissioner Brown. “I look forward to the opportunity to partner with the Department of Energy to further strengthen the public interest in natural gas regulation.”
Commissioner Brown was reappointed to the PSC by Governor Rick Scott for a four-year term beginning January 2, 2015 and ending January 1, 2019. She served as Commission Chairman from January 2016-January 2018. She was first appointed to the Commission by Governor Charlie Crist and was reappointed by Governor Rick Scott for a four-year term beginning January 2, 2011.
Commissioner Brown serves on NARUC’s Committee on Gas, Subcommittee on Nuclear Issues–Waste Disposal, and its Presidential Natural Gas Access and Expansion Task Force to help expand natural gas service in neglected and rural areas. She previously served on NARUC’s Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment.
Before being appointed to the PSC, she was Associate Legal Counsel of First American Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, where she handled a variety of legal issues in the Eastern, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic Regions, including corporate compliance with regulatory authorities. Previously an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Tampa, Commissioner Brown specialized in contract, regulatory and administrative law while acting as legal advisor to the City of Tampa for wastewater, stormwater, land development coordination, and other matters. She also worked as a corporate attorney at Shumaker, Loop and Kendrick, LLP in Tampa, Florida, specializing in mergers and acquisitions and securities law.
PSC Urges Floridians to Prepare for 2018 Hurricane Season
With last year’s Atlantic storm season among the strongest, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) urges residents to prepare now for the 2018 hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.
“Hurricane preparedness should top our to-do lists,” said PSC Chairman Art Graham. “Preparation is the best protection against dangerous storms. Build an emergency storm supply kit, gather important utility contact information, and prepare your home to help keep your family protected.”
Chairman Graham said the PSC’s website has planning tools to assist consumers with hurricane season preparation. The PSC’s “Hurricane House,” in English and Spanish, includes 19 preparation tips for your home and your family, from planning an evacuation route, to installing carbon monoxide detectors and dealing with downed power lines. You can also find a consumer tip on making a hurricane kit, as well as a consumer tip on storm preparation.
The PSC also ensures the state’s electric utilities are prepared for storm season. Utility storm plans are designed to minimize outages and help communities, businesses, and families return to normalcy as quickly as possible. The plans include PSC-mandated storm preparedness initiatives:
- facility inspections, maintenance, and repairs;
- vegetation management;
- flooding and storm surge mitigation;
- wooden pole inspections; and
- coordination with other utilities, government, and community groups.
In October 2017, the PSC opened a docket to review utilities’ storm preparation and restoration experiences. Information was gathered in the docket and through utility presentations at a PSC workshop on May 2-3. The information will be used to complete a report and recommendations for further reducing outages and restoration times, expected to be presented to the Commission at a June 19 Internal Affairs Meeting.
The workshop agenda, fact sheet on storm preparedness and restoration initiatives, and utility presentations can be found here. You can view the archived workshop video here.
PSC Assists Hillsborough County Seniors During Older Americans Month
During May’s Older Americans Month, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is visiting three Hillsborough County Senior Centers on Tuesday, May 22, and Wednesday, May 23.
PSC representatives will distribute and discuss water and energy conservation information, assist eligible seniors in applying for the Lifeline Assistance telephone/broadband discount program, and offer protection against scams targeting utility customers.
The Palm Beach County events are scheduled for the following times and locations:
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
11:00 a.m.
Tampa Baptist Manor
215 W Grand Central Ave
Tampa, Florida
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
10:00 a.m.
Brandon Senior Center
612 N Parsons Ave
Brandon, Florida
and
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
1:00 p.m.
Ruskin Center
905 6th Street SE
Ruskin, Florida
About Older Americans Month
Since 1963, communities and agencies across the state and nation have joined in the annual Older American Month commemoration. The tradition shows the state’s commitment to celebrating the contributions and achievements of older Florida residents. For more information visit, oam.acl.gov.
For additional information, visit floridapsc.com.
