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 Public Service Commission
Florida PSC Recognizes April as Water Conservation Month
Water conservation begins right at the tap. During the month of April, Water Conservation Month is observed, and the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) urges Floridians to keep their water usage in check.
“Typically, March, April and May have the lowest rainfall amounts in Florida,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “Since the highest water savings can occur during outdoor use, we recommend making conservation a natural habit when watering your yard.”
Nationwide, according to the EPA, landscape irrigation is estimated to account for nearly one-third (1/3) of all residential water use, totaling nearly 9 billion gallons per day.
The PSC offers these outdoor water saving tips for your use this spring:
- Check your irrigation system for clogged, broken or missing sprinkler heads.
- Don’t water the driveway, house or sidewalk instead of your yard! Redirect sprinklers to apply water only to your landscape.
- Skip watering a landscape if it’s raining, just rained or if your landscape doesn’t need the water.
- Only water on designated days, particularly if your city/county has water restrictions, and make sure your irrigation timers are set accordingly.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and many local governments participate in statewide water conservation efforts through the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association’s Water Use Efficiency Division (WUED). The WUED works with the Governor and Cabinet each year to officially proclaim April as Water Conservation Month.
Need more tips on how to save water during Water Conservation Month? The PSC’s Drop by Drop brochure offers water saving tips for both inside and outside your home. The PSC’s consumer tip on xeriscaping can help you get started on a worry-free landscape.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
PSC Continues Hearing for Gulf Power Company; Holds Commission Conference on Tuesday
On Tuesday, April 4, 2017, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will continue its hearing on Gulf Power Company’s (Gulf) rate request to consider a proposed Settlement Agreement. Submitted on March 20, 2017, before the start of the PSC’s scheduled technical hearing, the proposed Agreement is signed by Gulf, the Office of Public Counsel, and the Florida Industrial Power Users Group (FIPUG).
Following the hearing, the PSC will hold its monthly Commission Conference. Items scheduled for consideration can be found here. Public comment may be taken on any item noticed for public participation.
The hearing is scheduled for the following time and location:
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
9:00 a.m.
Betty Easley Conference Center
Joseph P. Cresse Hearing Room (Room 148)
4075 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, Florida
The PSC Commission Conference will begin after the hearing concludes.
The hearing and 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.
Meadow Pointe I in Wesley Chapel Receives PSC’s Triple E Award
With resident services and costs a top priority, the Meadow Pointe I community in Wesley Chapel retrofitted its recreation areas with LED light fixtures. The efficiency upgrade not only saves 11,826 kWh annually, it also earned Meadow Pointe I the Florida Public Service Commission’s (PSC) March Triple E Award–for Energy Efficiency Efforts.
“Meadow Pointe I, a Community Development District (CDD), offers its residents a broad range of community-related services to help ensure the highest quality of life,” PSC Chairman Julie Brown said. “The community is now enjoying reduced light pollution and $1,400 in annual energy savings by switching to LED lighting, and we’re happy to recognize their efforts.”
To date, Meadow Point I has upgraded the lighting at its four tennis courts, pool decks, and parking lots. Tampa Electric Company also completed an energy audit for the community’s facilities in September 2015, and the CDD applied for two air conditioning (cooling) rebates from Tampa Electric in 2016. The cooling project’s energy savings is estimated at $326 a year, with a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
“Besides the great environmental benefits, our annual electric costs are reduced and we’ve also saved money through Tampa Electric’s efficiency rebate programs,” said Keith Fisk, Operations Manager, Meadow Pointe I. “We are so pleased with our current energy saving improvements that we are planning additional lighting retrofits at our basketball and volleyball courts.”
“For more than 40 years, Tampa Electric has been a leader in promoting energy efficiency,” said Gordon Gillette, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tampa Electric. “We’re one of the first utilities to offer LED lighting and are pleased that Meadow Pointe I has been able to take advantage of our rebate programs to help conserve energy and save on their energy costs.”
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 PSC 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 Meadow Pointe I
Meadow Pointe I CDD is a single family residential community surrounded by over 100 ponds and conservation areas in Wesley Chapel. For more information, call 813-973-1671. CDD responsibilities within communities often include streetlights, recreational facilities, storm water management, irrigation water supply, sewer and wastewater management, and solid waste collection. There are over 300 CDDs throughout Florida.
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
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Hearing for Gulf Power Rate Request Begins Monday
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will conduct a technical hearing on Gulf Power Company’s (Gulf) request for a rate increase beginning Monday, March 20, 2017. The hearing allows Gulf and intervenors in the case to present sworn testimony and exhibits in support of their positions.
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.
The hearing is set for the following time and location:
Monday, March 20, 2017
1:00 p.m.
Betty Easley Conference Center
Joseph P. Cresse Hearing Room (Room 148)
4075 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, Florida
In addition, March 21-24 are reserved to continue the hearing, if needed. The starting time of the next day’s session will be announced at the conclusion of each day.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
PSC Proposes Rules for Establishing Reserve Funds for Water and Wastewater Utilities
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) voted today to propose rules allowing water and wastewater utilities to request a reserve fund, that may provide accessible, low-cost funding for infrastructure repair and replacement projects. The rules are consistent with House Bill 491, passed by the 2016 Florida Legislature, giving the PSC authority to establish reserve funds for water and wastewater utilities.
“Carrying out the Legislature’s directives to address water and wastewater utilities’ need to repair and replace infrastructure, which is an ongoing industry issue in our state, reduces utilities’ borrowing costs and make funding more readily available to meet short- and long-term capital expenditures,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “A reserve fund can also help reduce a utility’s need for frequent rate cases, thus lowering the impact of rate case expense for its customers.”
Chairman Brown added, “Safe, affordable drinking water and sanitary waste disposal are vital building blocks for economic development, job creation and retention in Florida’s communities. We will continue to work with the Legislature, helping Florida’s water and wastewater utilities meet their operational challenges to provide quality service to their customers.”
The proposed rules allow the PSC to create a reserve fund to be used for certain infrastructure repair and replacement projects, with disbursement subject to Commission approval. Once a reserve fund is approved, it will be secured through an escrow account or irrevocable letter of credit. The utility is required to provide a monthly report of the fund deposits and disbursements, a project status report every six months, an update in its annual report, and an updated capital improvement plan every three years.
The PSC held an initial rule development workshop in December 2016; water and wastewater industry representatives and the Office of Public Counsel, who represents utility customers, participated. If no requests for hearing or comments are filed, the rules will be filed with the Department of State.
Currently, the PSC has jurisdiction over 131 water and wastewater IOUs in 37 Florida counties.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
PSC Chairman Julie Brown Highlights 2017 National Consumer Protection Week
With social media reshaping how news is received, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is launching a Twitter campaign, #PSCCelebratesConsumersNCPW, for National Consumer Protection Week, March 5-11. Each day, the campaign will feature a consumer tip from PSC Commissioners and highlight the PSC’s educational activities.
“The National Consumer Protection Week is an important opportunity for the Florida PSC to provide education and awareness about utility services and avoiding potential scams,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “We hope to provide valuable tips and information to ensure consumers receive safe and reliable utility service.”
During the 19th Annual NCPW, the PSC will make presentations to consumers in Winter Springs, Winter Park, Orlando, Hollywood, Miramar, and Hallandale Beach, showing them how to save money through energy and water conservation and how to sign up for the Lifeline Assistance telephone and broadband discount program, if they qualify. Presentation locations and times can be found on Twitter and on the PSC website, www.floridapsc.com.
Look for #PSCCelebratesConsumersNCPW on Twitter to see the Commissioner consumer tip videos, as well as pictures and news from each consumer visit. NCPW Commissioner consumer tips can also be found here.
For more information on NCPW, visit https://www.ncpw.gov/.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
PSC Customer Meeting for ESAD Enterprises d/b/a Beaches Sewer System
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) invites customers of ESAD Enterprises d/b/a Beaches Sewer System (Beaches) to a customer meeting on Thursday, March 9, 2017, to discuss the utility’s petition for a rate change. Customers can comment on Beaches’ proposed rates and any quality of service issues at the meeting.
The PSC’s last rate case for Beaches was in 1988. Beaches provides wastewater service to approximately 300 residential customers in Gulf County.
The meeting is scheduled for the following time and location:
Thursday, March 9, 2017
6:00 p.m.
Gulf County School Board
Administrative Office
150 Middle School Road
Port St. Joe, FL 32456
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
PSC Helps Consumers in Miramar and Hollywood During National Consumer Protection Week
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 Wednesday, March 8, 2017, as part of NCPW, PSC staff will be speaking with customers in Miramar and Hollywood 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:
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
8:30 a.m.
Fred Lippman Multi-Purpose Center
2030 Polk Street
Hollywood, Florida 33020
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
10 – 11 a.m.
Miramar Senior Center
6700 Miramar Parkway
Miramar, Florida 33023
And
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
12 – 1 p.m.
Sunset Lakes Senior Center
2801 SW 186th Avenue
Miramar, Florida 33029
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
