Legislative/Regulatory

After hurricanes during the past three years knocked out electricity for millions of Floridians, lawmakers are moving forward with regulatory changes that could lead to more underground power lines. But it would come at a cost. A House panel approved a bill (HB 797) that would create a new process... Continue Reading

State regulators Tuesday signed off on a plan by Tampa Electric Co. to increase customer bills in April because of higher-than-expected natural gas costs. With the approval by the Florida Public Service Commission, residential customers will see roughly 4 percent increases in their bills.... Continue Reading

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is arguing that the Florida Supreme Court should block a proposed constitutional amendment that could revamp the state’s electric utility industry. Moody took a formal step Friday of asking the Supreme Court to review the proposed ballot wording and... Continue Reading

A political committee backing a proposed constitutional amendment that would overhaul Florida’s electric-utility industry spent more than $562,000 in January as it continues to collect petition signatures, a newly filed finance report shows. The committee Citizens for Energy Choices spent... Continue Reading

The state Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared skeptical of arguments that it should reject decisions by regulators allowing Florida Power & Light to collect money from customers for solar-energy projects and an environmental cleanup. The court held back-to-back arguments in challenges to... Continue Reading

Backers of a proposed constitutional amendment that would overhaul Florida’s electric-utility industry have submitted enough petition signatures for the state Supreme Court to review the ballot wording, according to the Florida Division of Elections website. The political committee Citizens... Continue Reading

Two of Florida’s most-powerful business groups said Thursday they oppose a proposed constitutional amendment that would overhaul the state’s electric utility industry. The Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida issued statements as the political committee... Continue Reading

Pointing to higher-than-expected natural gas costs, Tampa Electric Co. asked state regulators to approve an increase in customer bills that would take effect in April. The request stems from a process that involves utilities passing through power-plant fuel costs to customers. The state Public... Continue Reading

A political committee has submitted more than 60,000 valid petition signatures to the state Division of Elections as it tries to get a measure on the 2020 ballot that could revamp Florida’s electric utility industry. The committee Citizens for Energy Choices had submitted 60,880 signatures... Continue Reading

State regulators Tuesday approved proposals that will allow Tampa Electric Co. and Peoples Gas System to disconnect or refuse service to customers who threaten utility workers. The companies, which are part of TECO Energy, requested approval from the Florida Public Service Commission because of... Continue Reading

State regulators cleared the way for Florida Power & Light to finalize a long-discussed deal to buy the city of Vero Beach’s electric utility and add about 35,000 customers in Indian River County. With approvals from the state Public Service Commission, FPL plans to close the $185... Continue Reading

The state Public Service Commission should give key approvals to a long-discussed plan by Florida Power & Light to purchase the city of Vero Beach’s utility system, according to recommendations issued Friday by commission staff members. The commission is slated to take up the $185... Continue Reading