The Florida Public Service Commission on Tuesday relaxed previously suggested energy efficiency requirements for the state’s largest investor owned utilities by rolling back a 2008 legislative effort to require electric generators to diversify their fuel consumption and promote energy efficiency.
By its vote, the panel approved a staff recommendation to maintain current goals set for both Florida Power & Light and Progress Energy Florida.
Commissioner Ron Brise echoed the concerns of other commissioners saying the costs of more stringent energy efficiency may overly burden customers during tough economic times.
“Sometimes we need to make changes to reflect the time we are in now,” Brise said.
The decision came over the objections of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, which said the panel was sacrificing long-term benefits for short term savings.
