Legislative/Regulatory

By Jim SaundersNews Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — In an unusual move, the state Supreme Court on Friday said utility regulators need to revise a decision that approved a controversial Duke Energy Florida solar-energy program, saying the regulators’ decision “leaves the court... Continue Reading

By Jim SaundersNews Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — In an issue that involves major players in Florida’s telecommunications and utility industries, an administrative law judge Wednesday rejected a challenge to a proposed rule about the use of telephone and power poles that line the... Continue Reading

By News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Customers of Florida Public Utilities Co., which provides electricity in parts of North Florida, could see increased monthly bills because of higher-than-expected natural gas prices. The utility filed a notice Wednesday that said it expects to ask... Continue Reading

TALLAHASSEE — Florida Power & Light got approval Monday from state utility regulators to develop a 79-mile transmission line northwest of Lake Okeechobee. In a brief meeting, the Public Service Commission approved the need for the project, which will link the Sweatt Substation in... Continue Reading

By Jim SaundersNews Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — As this year’s hurricane season gets ready to start June 1, major utilities have filed proposals that could lead to customers paying hundreds of millions of dollars in 2023 to help bolster electric systems against storms. Florida... Continue Reading

By Jim SaundersNews Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — In a win for the rooftop-solar industry and environmental groups, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday vetoed a controversial bill that would have made major changes in rules for rooftop-solar energy. The bill (HB 741) dealt with a... Continue Reading

News Service of Florida Tallahassee — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed 10 bills, including a measure (HB 1411) that seeks to expand the use of floating solar projects, known as floatovoltaics. The relatively new concept involves solar panels placed in wastewater treatment ponds,... Continue Reading

News Service of Florida Tallahassee — The state Office of Public Counsel is urging the Florida Supreme Court to overturn a decision by regulators that called for Duke Energy Florida customers to pay $7.2 million related to an outage at a power plant. The Office of Public Counsel, which... Continue Reading

Florida electric utilities continue to get hammered by high natural-gas prices. Tampa Electric Co. notified state regulators Thursday it is facing higher-than-expected fuel costs, though it did not file a proposal to quickly pass along the costs to customers. Each year, the Florida Public... Continue Reading

News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Escambia County Commission has joined other local governments in asking the state Public Service Commission to take another look at Florida Power & Light’s rates. In a letter posted Monday on the Public Service Commission website,... Continue Reading

News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — The Bay County city of Lynn Haven has joined other Panhandle communities in asking the state Public Service Commission to review Florida Power & Light’s rates. In a letter posted Wednesday on the Public Service Commission website, Lynn Haven... Continue Reading

The Santa Rosa County Commission has joined other Panhandle communities in asking state regulators to review Florida Power & Light’s rates. In a letter dated March 24 and posted Tuesday on the state Public Service Commission website, the Santa Rosa County Commission pointed to a base... Continue Reading