If rate hike is approved, over 5.3 million Florida families will see $360+ added to bills over two years

NEWS RELEASE

Florida – The Florida Public Service Commission will begin hearing arguments today during the technical hearings for Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) near-$10 billion rate case. Hearings were to begin in August, but were postponed following a last-minute settlement proposal between FPL and corporate and large-scale energy user customers.

“Florida Power & Light’s astronomical rate hike request is nothing short of a betrayal of the customers they claim to represent,” said Brooke Ward, Senior Florida Organizer for Food & Water Watch. “While everyday Floridians brace for higher bills, FPL is cutting backroom deals with special interests — out of sight, out of mind. DeSantis’ utility regulators who are supposed to be watchdogs for the public have instead become lapdogs for Florida utilities, rubber-stamping deals that hurt ratepayers. The timing is no accident: as the legislature gavels in today, it is clear our elected leaders must step up and protect Floridians from this assault on affordable energy. Floridians deserve transparency, fairness, and an energy system that serves them — not corporate profits.”

Over the next two weeks, the PSC will hear evidence before deciding whether to approve FPL’s rate hike. A final decision is expected later this year.

Florida Rising Deputy Campaigns Director MacKenzie Marcelin said, “At customer service hearings, through public comments submitted in the docket, and at community events, the average FPL residential customer has made it abundantly clear that they do not want to see their electricity bills increase. The following two weeks will reveal whether the Public Service Commission is truly listening to the voices of residential consumers or whether the noise from special interest groups, such as FPL, Publix, and Walmart, will drown out the voices of the masses. In a time when health insurance costs are rising, food prices are increasing, and people are struggling to pay rent, the Public Service Commission must meet the moment and listen to the voices of the public and reject the deal that only increases profit for the 1% and instead choose the better deal that is fair and just for all of us.”

Earthjustice Attorney Bradley Marshall — representing Florida Rising, League of United Latin American Citizens of Florida, and Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida in the rate case — said, “We look forward to proving over the next two weeks that FPL’s rate request increase is excessive and will disproportionately burden Florida’s hard-working families and small businesses.”

“FPL’s proposed increase will make it even harder for working families to keep the lights on. Last year, FPL shut off power to over 1 million households for nonpayment. These families were left in the dark while FPL raked in profits for their shareholders,” said Catalyst Miami Climate Justice Program Manager Maria Claudia Schubert-Fontes. “Under their current proposal, 50 cents of every dollar FPL collects from customers goes to their shareholders’ pockets and paying taxes—not servicing their customers! We need the Public Service Commission to ensure fair rates for Florida families.”

CLEO Institute CEO Yoca Arditi-Rocha said, “Regulators are supposed to protect Floridians, not rubber-stamp utility wish lists. At a time when affordability fears are being felt across party lines, stretched by the cost of living, we can’t afford another huge rate increase.  FPL’s hike puts profit over people and regulators must protect all Floridians.”

“Florida families are already struggling with skyrocketing costs for housing, food, and insurance. The last thing they can afford is yet another hike in their utility bills. Any increase would deepen the burden on households already making impossible choices each month,” said ReThink Energy Florida Co-Executive Director Kim Ross. “Floridians deserve utility regulators who put people first, prioritizing affordability and reliability over corporate profits. The Public Service Commission must act as a watchdog for the public it serves.”

Florida Student Power Climate Justice Organizer Alyssa White said, “FPL does not represent us. Young people and families across Florida are already struggling to keep up with rising costs, and these rate hikes will make it even harder to make ends meet. Our communities have shared their voices, yet decisions continue to prioritize corporate profits over the people who live here. Regulators have the opportunity and responsibility to put families and young people first, to ensure that everyone has a fair chance to thrive without being burdened by skyrocketing utility bills.”