Gary F. Clark was sworn in today as a Commissioner on the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) by Judge Colby Peel, Fourteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida. Governor Rick Scott appointed Clark to the PSC in September to serve the remainder of a four-year term.
“I look forward to serving as Public Service Commissioner,” said Commissioner Clark, who most recently was Deputy Secretary of Land and Recreation for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). “I gained valuable experience at DEP and West Florida Electric, and my appreciation of customers and utility operations will be a good foundation as I prepare to make decisions on the many challenging issues we face.”
At DEP, he oversaw 174 state parks and trails and the Division of State Lands. In this role, he also served as chair of both the Florida Acquisition and Restoration Council and the governing board of the Florida Communities Trust.
Commissioner Clark spent the majority of his professional career at West Florida Electric, where he served as the Vice President of Member Services. During his tenure, Commissioner Clark worked in many areas of the company and led the company’s diversification efforts. He was also a member of the Association of Energy Engineers where he earned the distinction of Certified Energy Manager.
Recognized for his leadership and community service, Commissioner Clark has served in several capacities, including Washington County School Board member, Chipola College Board of Trustees, Washington County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and the Northwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board.
Commissioner Clark is a graduate of Chipola College and the University of Phoenix and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. A lifelong resident of Washington County, he has owned and managed several small business operations in Northwest Florida.
Commissioner Clark joins Chairman Julie Brown and Commissioners Art Graham, Ronald Brisé, and Donald Polmann on the five-member panel.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Florida Public Service Commission
New Integrity Florida Report Calls the Florida PSC a Captured Regulatory Agency
Integrity Florida today released a new research report examining the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) and many of the more controversial rate decisions the commission has made in recent years.
The report, titled Florida’s “Public Service” Commission? A Captured Regulatory Agency, builds on key findings by proposing a series of policy reform options that would greatly improve the PSC’s ability to serve the people of Florida.
“Investor-owned utilities regulated by the PSC have an extraordinary degree of influence on the Governor and the legislature and they have used that influence to pursue favorable decisions by the PSC, at the expense of the public,” said Ben Wilcox, Research Director for Integrity Florida. “This report shows that the Public Service Commission has been “captured” by the very industries it is supposed to regulate.”
The PSC has the dual responsibility of balancing the needs of monopoly utilities and their investors with the needs of consumers. The commission must set rates that are fair, just and reasonable for consumers, but utility investors must also be allowed to earn a reasonable return on their investment. When evaluating recent rate decisions researchers noticed some troubling trends.
“Many contested rate hike requests by utilities are resolved through settlements. However, utilities seem to be gaming the settlement process,” said Alan Stonecipher, Integrity Florida Research Associate. “The companies enter negotiations in rate cases much like a used car dealer who marks up the initial asking price knowing that they will eventually agree to a lower amount.”
“There also seems to be a pattern with the PSC, and other elected officials, allowing utilities to shift the costs of their most risky and speculative projects from shareholders to consumers,” said Brad Ashwell, Integrity Florida Research Associate.
The report makes several key findings:
- The Florida PSC meets the criteria for a “captured” regulatory agency.
- The PSC needs more independence from the Florida Legislature.
- Residential energy customers need more balanced prioritization.
- Utilities are gaming the settlement process.
- The PSC is allowing utilities to shift risk from shareholders to customers.
- The Office of the Public Counsel needs more independence, just as the PSC, and should likewise be insulated from political considerations.
In response to the report’s findings, Integrity Florida offers a list of policy options for lawmakers to consider:
- Return the Public Service Commission to an elected body or a mix of elected and appointed members.
- If all or part of the Commission is elected, consider prohibiting candidates for the commission from accepting campaign contributions from interests whose businesses are regulated by the PSC.
- Broaden membership on the Public Service Commission Nominating Counsel to include, at minimum, consumer groups.
- Require that the Office of Public Counsel must agree to any PSC settlements for cases in which it participates.
- If the commission is to remain an appointed body, require that it be nonpartisan by allowing no more than three of the commissioners to be a member of the same political party.
- Make residential and small business customers the focus of the Office of Public Counsel.
- Provide more funding for Office of Public Counsel.
- Explore making the Office of Public Counsel an independent entity like the Florida Commission on Ethics.
“The Public Service Commission and the Office of the Public Counsel need more independence from the Florida Legislature,” added Ben Wilcox. “The process for selection of PSC commissioners and the Office of the Public Counsel should be further insulated from politics and lobbying.”
Read the full report here.
Integrity Florida to Publish New Report on Florida's PSC
MEDIA ADVISORY
The large utilities regulated by Florida’s Public Service Commission have a high degree of influence on the Governor and the legislature through political contributions and lobbying and have used that influence to pursue favorable regulatory decisions. The result is an agency that has been “captured” by the industries it regulates, often leading to decisions that are not in the best economic interest of Florida’s families and businesses.
This research report examines the structure of the PSC and controversial ratemaking decisions. It also proposes policy reform options to ensure fair ratemaking that would allow the PSC to better serve the people of Florida.
What: Press conference to release research report and findings.
Who: Ben Wilcox, Research Director, Alan Stonecipher, Researcher, and Brad Ashwell, Researcher
Where: The Florida Press Center, 336 East College Avenue, Tallahassee, Florida 32301
When: 11:00 A.M. Monday, October 2nd, 2017
Commission Conference, Ten-Year Site Plan Workshop Set for Tuesday
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will hold a Commission Conference on Tuesday, October 3, 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.
Following the Commission Conference, the PSC will hold a workshop to discuss Florida’s electric utilities’ ten-year site plans, identifying system upgrades and modifications needed to maintain adequate reliability over the next 10 years.
The Commission is required by Florida Statute to perform an annual review of the utilities’ plans and classify them as “suitable” or “unsuitable.” Commission findings are provided to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for consideration at power plant and transmission line siting certification proceedings.
The Commission Conference is scheduled for the following time and location:
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
9:30 a.m.
Betty Easley Conference Center
Joseph P. Cresse Hearing Room (Room 148)
4075 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, Florida
The Ten-Year Site Plan Workshop will begin after the Commission Conference concludes.
The Commission Conference will be broadcast on the Florida Channel (check your local listings) and is available online at www.floridapsc.com. (look for the “Watch Live Broadcast” icon on the left side of the web page).
Valencia College in Orlando Receives PSC’s Triple E Award
Applying its innovative academic reputation to innovative efficiency strategies helped Valencia College cut its energy consumption in half since 2008. These outstanding results earned the Orlando-based college the Florida Public Service Commission’s (PSC) September Triple E Award – for energy efficiency efforts.
“The PSC applauds Valencia College’s Facilities and Sustainability Department for their energy-saving initiatives,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “The college implemented LEED building standards, installed high efficiency mechanical systems, and built energy conservation into its culture, and it’s really translated into savings.”
Even with a growing campus over the past eight years, Valencia College continues to reduce its energy consumption by introducing high efficiency chillers, building automation upgrades, and high performance buildings. In 2005-2006, before its efficiency efforts, Valencia’s average energy use was 27.94 kWh per square foot. Ten years later, the college’s energy use is averaging 14.39 kWh per square foot—an energy savings of almost 50 percent.
“Change in energy use begins with individual habits,” said Robert Hickman, Valencia College Operations Manager, Energy Efficiency. “We were striving to accomplish more, so the College employed a behavioral change vendor. Their focus on equipment audits, utility studies, temperature set-points, and shut-down optimization helped change the attitude of faculty, staff, and students toward energy waste.”
In 2008, the College also began efforts to reduced water consumption by using low flow faucets, dual flush closets, xeriscaping, and a new HVAC water treatment technology. During a five-year study, the new treatment system helped reduce water consumption by 9.5 million gallons each year, from an annual average of 25.9 million gallons to 16.5 million gallons. “The system saves water by using high cycles and saves energy by helping to maintain the design performance of our chillers,” Hickman added.
Covering the state’s five major geographic areas, each month the PSC presents its Triple E Award to a local business that has accomplished superior energy efficiency. Look for past Triple E Award recipients under Hot Topics on the PSC’s homepage, www.floridapsc.com. The PSC encourages cost-effective conservation and renewable energy to reduce the use of fossil fuels and defer the need for new generating capacity through the Florida Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act.
About Valencia College
Valencia College is one of 28 colleges in the Florida College System. VC has 6 different campuses and serves approximately 70,000 students in the Orlando Area. Founded in 1967 as a Junior College, the Board changed the name to Valencia College in 2010 because the academic scope changed to include bachelor degrees. In 2011, Valencia College was named “The Best Community College in the Nation” by the Aspen Institute. VC has also garnered recognition from its “DirectConnect to UCF.” Since 2006, more than 45,000 students have been guaranteed acceptance to the University of Central Florida. For more information, visit www.ValenciaCollege.edu.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
PSC Celebrates National Lifeline Awareness Week with Events in Sarasota County
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will host information sessions on Tuesday, September 26, 2017, in Sarasota County for residents to learn about the Lifeline Assistance (Lifeline) discounted telephone service program.
These events highlight National Lifeline Awareness Week 2017, September 11-17, which aims to raise awareness and increase participation in the Lifeline program. Representatives will be available to help qualified residents apply.
Due to Hurricane Irma the events have been rescheduled to the following times and locations:
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
9 a.m.
Senior Friendship Center Inc.
1888 Brother Greenen Way
Sarasota, FL 34236
and
11 a.m.
Senior Friendship Center Inc.
2350 Scenic Drive
Venice, FL 34236
The Federal Communications Commission, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, and the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates support National Lifeline Awareness Week. For more information, visit,www.lifeline.gov and www.naruc.org.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
Statement from Chairman Julie I. Brown regarding Hurricane Irma
The power grid is the foundation for Florida’s economy and how all Floridians live, work, and function on a day-to-day basis. Hurricane Irma was an epic and catastrophic storm event that affected almost all of Peninsular Florida. Due to the enormity of this storm event, its statewide impact, and the vast numbers of persons affected, restoration of power statewide is of a historic magnitude not seen before in this state. Florida is still in restoration mode. Not all customers have power. Nonetheless, we have already begun to think about what the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) can do to ensure everyone involved in the power restoration process cost-effectively implements lessons learned from the storm.
Because it is critical that customers receive safe, adequate, and reliable electric service, the PSC already has in place several processes to review utility storm preparedness plans and to evaluate the impact of storms on electric infrastructure. One process is that prior to the start of the hurricane season, we hold annual public meetings with Florida’s electric utilities to hear about new practices and technology to facilitate a discussion between utilities and the PSC.
In addition, our rules require utilities to develop plans to address the ability of transmission and distribution facilities to withstand extreme weather conditions, and to reduce restoration costs and outage times to customers. We review these plans on a regular basis. The public should be aware that the PSC plans to review Hurricane Irma’s impacts on electric utility infrastructure and the utilities’ post-storm restoration performance as soon as reasonably feasible. As part of this proceeding, forensic data will be collected on the transmission and distribution facilities impacted by Hurricane Irma’s winds, and the utilities tree trimming practices and pole inspection cycles will be analyzed.
After an intensive fact-based review, the PSC will identify opportunities to improve utility practices and procedures.
Florida PSC Urges Patience as Utilities Work to Restore Power
Be patient, Florida, as electric utilities work to restore power following Hurricane Irma, urges the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC), which regulates the state’s investor-owned utilities.
“Florida’s utilities are working around-the-clock to get families, businesses, and communities back to normal,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown said. “Coordination between utilities throughout Florida and other states means tens of thousands of workers are on-the-ground helping speed restoration efforts as quickly and safely as possible.
“Following completion of safe restoration efforts, all stakeholders, including the PSC, and other stakeholder agencies, will assess restoration performance and any opportunities and/or needs for improvement.”
The PSC reminds Floridians that utilities must try to restore power to the largest number of customers as safely and quickly as possible and follow a systematic protocol.
- They have to first repair power plants and damaged transmission lines and substations;
- They then restore power to critical facilitates such as hospitals, police and fire stations, communications facilities, water treatment plants, and transportation providers;
- They work to return service to major complexes housing grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and other community services; and
- They also simultaneously concentrate on restoring service to neighborhoods, ensuring that every resident and business has power.
For consumers needing assistance, please first call your utility. If you need further assistance, the PSC’s toll-free consumer assistance line is 1-800-342-3552. Or, you can visit the PSC’s website at www.floridapsc.com.
Florida PSC Selects Sprint to Provide Florida Relay Service
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) today approved a three-year contract with Sprint Communications Company, L.P. (Sprint) to provide telecommunications relay service to the nearly three million hard-of-hearing, deaf, deaf/blind, and speech impaired Floridians. Sprint’s contract begins in March 2018.
Of the two companies bidding, Sprint received the highest technical rating and offered the lowest overall per-minute cost for service. Sprint was the only bidder proposing to hire an in-state Customer Relations Manager. Sprint also proposed to designate a Florida Relay Quality Manager.
“Florida’s relay service assures everyone has the ability to use the public telephone network and connect with their family and community,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “We look forward to Sprint seamlessly continuing to offer this essential service.”
On May 4, 2017, Commissioners voted to issue a request for proposal (RFP) to select a relay service provider offering the most cost effective service for Florida’s citizens. The RFP, issued May 16, 2017, included a clearly defined point system for proposal evaluations, and companies were required to submit their bids with charges per billable minute, assuming a three-year contract award, with the option of four one-year extensions.
The PSC issued the RFP when Sprint informed the Commission it did not intend to extend the relay provider contract into the option periods at its current price. The current contract with Sprint expires on February 28, 2018. Sprint and Hamilton Telecommunications Company submitted proposals.
Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc. (FTRI), a non-profit corporation, administers the statewide relay service. Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Florida’s relay service facilitates telephone calls between people with hearing loss or speech disabilities and other individuals by using special equipment and a communications assistance operator to relay information. A monthly surcharge of $.10 per landline funds the distribution of specialized telecommunications devices and interstate relay service.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Florida PSC Promotes National Lifeline Awareness Week
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is offering eligible consumers a special opportunity to receive a discount on their monthly phone service during National Lifeline Awareness Week, September 11-17, 2017. Lifeline Assistance (Lifeline) program information will be available at PSC outreach events in several Florida communities this month and is also be available online.
Making communications services more affordable for low-income consumers, the federal Lifeline program provides a $9.25 monthly discount. Consumers can receive a Lifeline discount on either a wireline or a wireless service, but can not receive a discount on both services simultaneously. Lifeline also supports broadband and broadband-voice bundles through participating companies.
“Lifeline helps ensure that low-income consumers can afford 21st century communication and the access it provides to jobs, health care, education, and opportunities,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “Lifeline Awareness Week is a great opportunity to let consumers know that recent program changes now allow Lifeline broadband offerings, expanding ways to stay connected.”
To participate in Lifeline, consumers must have an income at or below 135 percent of the federal Poverty Guidelines, or you (or someone in your household) must participate in one of these federal assistance programs:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as Food Stamps
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Security Income
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8)
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
- Tribal Programs (and live on federally-recognized Tribal lands)
You will need to show a card, letter, or official document, as proof that you participate in one of these programs when you apply for Lifeline. Federal Communication Commission rules prohibit more than one Lifeline service per household, so consumers must choose to apply the discount to either voice or broadband service.
Joining other states in celebrating National Lifeline Awareness Week, Florida’s outreach events will help raise awareness and increase participation in the Lifeline program. PSC representatives will be available to help qualified residents who want to apply for Lifeline.
More information on Lifeline Awareness Week can be found here.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
