TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The state Public Service Commission should approve a proposal that would reduce Florida Power & Light customer bills because of lower-than-expected fuel costs, commission staff members recommended Thursday.
▶ WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS
FPL last week filed the proposal, which would save customers about $662 million.
If the proposal is approved, the savings would start showing up in customer bills in May and continue through December.
Read: Another flight from Haiti lands at Orlando International Airport, officials say
The commission is scheduled to take up the issue during an April 2 meeting.
The proposal stems from lower-than-expected costs for natural gas, which is used heavily to fuel power plants in Florida.
The commission each fall approves projected fuel costs for the following year, but utilities can seek what is known as a “mid-course correction” if fuel costs vary significantly from the projections. “FPL’s 2024 fuel-related revenue requirement has decreased substantially since the filing of its last cost projection in September 2023,” Thursday’s commission staff recommendation said.
Read: Man dies after shooting in Orange County, deputies say
Utilities use a benchmark of customers who consume 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a month.
FPL has two sets of rates because of a merger with the former Gulf Power.
Customers in the former Gulf Power territory in Northwest Florida who use 1,000 kilowatt hours a month currently pay $149.89.
Read: New Smyrna woman killed after deadly crash, FHP says
That will be reduced to $143.08 in April because of the already-planned end of certain storm-related costs, according to FPL.
If the fuel-related proposal is approved, the Northwest Florida bills will go to $135.38 in May. FPL customers in other parts of the state pay $135.69 for 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity. That will go to $128.88 in April and would decrease to $121.19 in May under the proposal.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2024 Cox Media Group
