TALLAHASSEE, Florida — State House lawmakers moved to clamp down on some revenues for city-owned utilities, while a Senate bill to tighten regulation of investor-owned utilities appears dead.
State Sen. Don Gaetz (R-Crestview) said his bill requiring the Public Service Commission to restrict the return on equity for investor-owned utilities was killed by those energy companies.
“They had a well-funded, well-organized, very quiet behind-the-scenes campaign,” Gaetz said. “They never had to get out in public and defend their position.”
His legislation, FL SB354 (25R), was filed in advance of Florida Power & Light Co.’s four-year, $9.8-billion rate hike request submitted on Feb. 28. The PSC has scheduled a two-week hearing on the request in August.