Industry

State regulators moved forward Thursday with a new law aimed at building more underground power lines and making Florida’s electric system better able to withstand punishing hurricanes. The Florida Public Service Commission approved proposed rules to carry out the law, which is expected to... Continue Reading

Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried on Thursday plans to roll out legislative priorities focused on climate change. Warning of greater coastal flooding and more powerful hurricanes, the package will address issues such as renewable energy, farm resilience, climate adaptation, new funding sources... Continue Reading

Kissimmee Utility Authority is warning its customers to beware of an active bill payment scam targeting residential customers in Kissimmee. Since Friday, the utility has received more than 250 reports from customers who have been threatened with service disconnection for unpaid account balances,... Continue Reading

State regulators next week will take up proposed rules that could help set the stage for an expansion of underground power lines in hurricane-weary Florida. Such an expansion received widespread support from lawmakers during the spring legislative session, but the Florida Public Service... Continue Reading

Pointing to issues such as low natural-gas prices, Tampa Electric Co. said this week it expects customers’ monthly bills to be reduced in 2020. The utility on Tuesday made filings with the state Public Service Commission that take into account expenses such as fuel costs for power plants.... Continue Reading

Lengthy and widespread power outages are in the forecast after Hurricane Dorian hits Florida. Eric Silagy, president and CEO of Florida Power & Light, said Friday the state’s largest utility is ready for the storm, with crews and equipment positioned to start restoring power after... Continue Reading

With state leaders, business groups and utilities fighting the measure, the Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared skeptical about a proposed constitutional amendment that would overhaul and deregulate the way residents and businesses get electricity. Justices listened to more than an hour... Continue Reading

Conditions are more favorable for an above normal Atlantic hurricane season in 2019, according to an updated forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA expects 10 to 17 named storms (winds of 39 mph or greater), of which 5 to 9 will become hurricanes (winds of 74... Continue Reading

A political committee spearheading a proposed constitutional amendment to overhaul Florida’s electric-utility industry received $668,000 in July as it continues to try to get the measure on the 2020 ballot. The committee Citizens for Energy Choices also spent $766,000 last month, with... Continue Reading

Environmentalists and consumer advocates want state regulators to expand what they consider low or “zero” energy-efficiency goals by major utilities. The state Public Service Commission is holding a hearing this week about “numeric conservation” goals that are set for... Continue Reading

In a clash of two of the state’s most-prominent companies, Florida Power & Light and AT&T Florida are battling in court and at the Federal Communications Commission about payments for the use of utility poles. AT&T asked a federal court this week to dismiss a lawsuit in which... Continue Reading

What started 25 years ago as an experiment to save money for municipal electric utilities in Florida continues to flourish today as the Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) celebrates the 25th anniversary of its Joint Purchasing Project. In 1994, Florida’s municipal electric utilities were... Continue Reading