In recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is joining Commissions across the country to encourage a “Day of Utility Service” on Monday, January 21. [Read more…] about PSC Observes Dr. King Holiday as a National Day of Utility Service
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PSC Transfers Vero Beach Electric Utility Customers, Rates Will Be Lower
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
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
Florida PSC Commission Conference on Tuesday
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.
International Institute of Orthotics & Prosthetics Receives PSC’s Triple E Award
TALLAHASSEE—While improving the lives of veterans and their families, Tampa’s International Institute of Orthotics & Prosthetics also improved its energy efficiency, earning them the Florida Public Service Commission’s (PSC) December Triple E Award for its energy efficiency efforts.
“With the important work the Institute does to treat veterans facing rehabilitation, implementing energy efficiencies makes sense by helping to reduce a variety of costs while improving the work environment for all,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown.
Tampa Electric Company (TECO) performed an initial energy audit at the Institute, leading to several recommendations. After replacing 418 fluorescent lamps with LED T8 lamps, the Institute received more than $2,350 from TECO’s conditioned space—lighting rebate programs. As a result of the lighting upgrade, the Institute will save $6,330 annually from an energy usage reduction of 80,000.0837 kWh. An added benefit is a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 49.32 tons of CO2, 160.09 pounds of NOx, and 257.12 pounds of SOx.
“Our collaborative approach in advancing the treatment of O&P patients is the same approach we used in working with TECO to maximize our energy efficiency,” said Arlene Gillis, the Institute’s founder. “We work hard to improve the lives of veterans and their families, and our efficiency upgrades helps us keep costs down while doing the work we love.”
“The energy experts at Tampa Electric have been helping customers to use energy wisely for nearly 40 years. It’s our pleasure to work with an institute that does so much good for the veterans and their families who live in the communities we serve,” saidNancy Tower, president and chief executive officer of Tampa Electric. “Today, we offer 36 programs to help our residential and business customers reduce their overall energy usage – and ultimately 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 Triple E Award recipients under Hot Topics on the PSC’s homepage. 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 the International Institute of Orthotics and Prosthetics
The International Institute of Orthotics and Prosthetics seeks to improve the lives of veterans and their families. The Institute works with accredited O&P programs in research, innovation, education, and collaboration. The Institute offers O&P and allied health program support services, including consulting/advisory services, curriculum development, grant writing, or assistance with developing consortium partnerships to leverage funding. Located just minutes from MacDill Air Force base, the Institute also offers veterans and their families wellness programs, career training, and job placement. For more information, call 888-204-4447 or visit www.iiofoandp.org.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
International Institute of Orthotics & Prosthetics Receives PSC’s Triple E Award
TALLAHASSEE—While improving the lives of veterans and their families, Tampa’s International Institute of Orthotics & Prosthetics also improved its energy efficiency, earning them the Florida Public Service Commission’s (PSC) December Triple E Award for its energy efficiency efforts.
“With the important work the Institute does to treat veterans facing rehabilitation, implementing energy efficiencies makes sense by helping to reduce a variety of costs while improving the work environment for all,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown.
Tampa Electric Company (TECO) performed an initial energy audit at the Institute, leading to several recommendations. After replacing 418 fluorescent lamps with LED T8 lamps, the Institute received more than $2,350 from TECO’s conditioned space—lighting rebate programs. As a result of the lighting upgrade, the Institute will save $6,330 annually from an energy usage reduction of 80,000.0837 kWh. An added benefit is a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 49.32 tons of CO2, 160.09 pounds of NOx, and 257.12 pounds of SOx.
“Our collaborative approach in advancing the treatment of O&P patients is the same approach we used in working with TECO to maximize our energy efficiency,” said Arlene Gillis, the Institute’s founder. “We work hard to improve the lives of veterans and their families, and our efficiency upgrades helps us keep costs down while doing the work we love.”
“The energy experts at Tampa Electric have been helping customers to use energy wisely for nearly 40 years. It’s our pleasure to work with an institute that does so much good for the veterans and their families who live in the communities we serve,” saidNancy Tower, president and chief executive officer of Tampa Electric. “Today, we offer 36 programs to help our residential and business customers reduce their overall energy usage – and ultimately 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 Triple E Award recipients under Hot Topics on the PSC’s homepage. 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 the International Institute of Orthotics and Prosthetics
The International Institute of Orthotics and Prosthetics seeks to improve the lives of veterans and their families. The Institute works with accredited O&P programs in research, innovation, education, and collaboration. The Institute offers O&P and allied health program support services, including consulting/advisory services, curriculum development, grant writing, or assistance with developing consortium partnerships to leverage funding. Located just minutes from MacDill Air Force base, the Institute also offers veterans and their families wellness programs, career training, and job placement. For more information, call 888-204-4447 or visit www.iiofoandp.org.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Florida PSC Requests Further Comments on Utility Hurricane Preparedness and Restoration
TALLAHASSEE—As part of its comprehensive review of 2017 utility hurricane preparedness and restoration actions, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is now requesting comments from interested stakeholders, including local governments, businesses, advocacy groups, and other organizations. The Commission is seeking stakeholder comments on vegetation management, undergrounding of electric facilities, and utilities’ coordination and communications during emergencies.
“We’ve been actively collecting data from Florida’s electric utilities and from more than 400 customers who’ve provided comments via the portal on the PSC’s home page,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “Now we’re drilling down another level to reach more stakeholders, who can provide an even broader perspective on how utilities are handling tree trimming, facilitating electric facilities undergrounding, and interacting with local emergency operations centers.”
For more information on submitting comments or to review the questions to be answered, visit www.floridapsc.com and accessReview of Electric Utility Hurricane Preparedness and Restoration Actions Comments under Hot Topics. Comments are due by February 20, 2018 and are limited to 25 pages, excluding attachments. All submitted comments will be public record and posted to the PSC’s website.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
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.
PSC Hearing on Retiring St. Johns River Power Park Scheduled for Monday
TALLAHASSEE—The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will conduct a hearing Monday, September 25, 2017, on Florida Power & Light Company’s (FPL) petition for approval to shut down the St. Johns River Power Park (SJRPP) at the end of this year. The plant’s retirement is expected to provide environmental benefits and save FPL customers millions of dollars.
FPL and the Office of Public Counsel, which represents consumers, filed a settlement agreement for resolving all issues in the case. The PSC may consider the settlement agreement during the hearing.
SJRPP is a coal-fired power plant jointly owned by FPL and JEA, the municipally-owned electric provider for the City of Jacksonville.
The hearing is scheduled for the following time and location:
Monday September 25, 2017
1:30 p.m.
Betty Easley Conference Center
Joseph P. Cresse Hearing Room (Room 148)
4075 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, Florida
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
Calhoun County Senior Citizens Association, Inc. Named PSC Helping Hand
TALLAHASSEE—The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is recognizing the Calhoun County Senior Citizens Association, Inc. (SCA) as August’s Helping Hand for helping raise public awareness about the Lifeline Assistance telephone and broadband discount program, energy and water conservation, and scams affecting seniors.
“We appreciate the Senior Citizens Association’s willingness to share the PSC’s beneficial information with Calhoun County residents,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “Through our ongoing outreach partnership, we are able to distribute our Lifeline, scam protection, and conservation materials to those individuals who will find the information most useful.”
Each month, the PSC highlights a partner agency or organization whose clients are eligible for the federal Lifeline Program and/or need help reducing energy and water bills. Through these PSC Helping Hand partnerships, the Commission shares vital information to help consumers better manage their resources to meet their monthly bills and avoid falling for utility-related scams.
“We are pleased to be named a PSC Helping Hand partner,” said Marilyn Russell, SCA Director. “The Association’s aim is to help residents achieve and maintain an independent, healthy lifestyle. We appreciate the PSC’s educational forum to assist our clients and look forward to continuing our partnership.”
Look for all the PSC Helping Hand outreach partner recognitions on the PSC’s homepage, www.floridapsc.com, under Hot Topics.
About Calhoun County Senior Citizens Association, Inc.
Calhoun County provides a vast array of services for local senior citizens, the elderly, and those who may be disadvantaged due to illness. Assisting Florida seniors since 1977, the Senior Citizens Association, Inc. also provides transportation services and a specialized senior travel agency. For more information, call 850-674-4163.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
