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Gulf Power Settlement

PSC Hearings for Gulf Power Settlement and Florida City Gas Settlement Begin Monday

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The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will hold two hearings on Monday, March 26. At 1:30 p.m., the Commission will consider a Settlement Agreement (Settlement) on Gulf Power Company’s (Gulf) treatment of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Office of Public Counsel (OPC), the Florida Industrial Power Users Group, and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy are signatories to Gulf’s Settlement.

Following the conclusion of Gulf’s hearing, the Commission will begin a hearing on Florida City Gas’ (FCG) Settlement Agreement (Settlement) for its rate increase request. OPC and Federal Executive Agencies are signatories to FCG’s Settlement. FCG filed its rate request with the PSC on August 23, 2017. The PSC held customer service hearings on January 23 in Coral Gables and on January 24 in Port St. Lucie and Melbourne. FCG currently provides natural gas service to approximately 108,000 retail customers across South Florida.

The hearings are set for the following times and location:

Monday, March 26, 2018
1:30 p.m., Gulf Power Company Settlement
Betty Easley Conference Center
Joseph P. Cresse Hearing Room (Room 148)
4075 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, Florida

and

Following the conclusion of Gulf’s hearing
Florida City Gas Settlement
Hearing will be held at the same location

In addition, March 27-30 are reserved to continue the hearing on FCG’s Settlement, if needed.  The starting time of the next day’s session will be announced at the conclusion of each day.

The hearings will be available online at floridapsc.com. Access the “Watch Live Broadcasts” camera icon on the left side of the homepage.

Consumers Win In Gulf Power Settlement

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Proposed Drastic Fixed Charge Hike Rescinded

In a settlement to a challenge mounted by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and the League of Women Voters of Florida, represented by Earthjustice, Gulf Power has agreed to rescind a drastic fixed charge hike proposal that would have hurt customers.
“We are glad that Gulf Power has agreed to do the right thing,” said Earthjustice attorney Bradley Marshall. “Raising this fixed charge on monthly bills would have unfairly penalized people who use less energy, and that makes no sense.”
Gulf Power wanted to increase the monthly fixed charge on its residential customers’ bills from the already high amount of about $18 to nearly $50. This rate restructuring proposal was unprecedented nationally and would have hit families on low and fixed incomes hard.
“The voices of the citizens were instrumental in this decision. This shows that people are paying attention, getting educated on issues that affect them and speaking out,” said Pamela Goodman, President of the League of Women Voters of Florida. Leading up to the hearing, Gulf Power customers were very vocal in their opposition to the proposal, providing comment at public hearings in Panama City and Pensacola, as well as sending over 1,000 letters to the Public Service Commission.
“We are pleased to see Gulf Power withdraw the unprecedented fixed charge increase from their rate proposal,” said Dr. Stephen Smith Executive Director, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. “We firmly believe excessive fixed charges prevent consumers from being able to manage their bills with common sense actions like investments in energy efficiency and solar self generation. As rates continue to go up, consumers need the freedom and flexibility to control their cost while protecting the environment.”
The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and the League of Women Voters of Florida applaud the abandonment of this unfair rate restructuring, but due to other concerns were unable to sign the settlement agreement.
The hearing is scheduled to begin on March 20th at 1 P.M. at which time the parties will present the settlement to the Public Service Commission.
The League of Women Voters of Florida, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, please visit the League’s website at: www.TheFloridaVoter.org.