Florida Power and Light is seeking to increase customers’ bills by 30 percent and the state’s Public Service Commission will consider their request in August.
Before the Commission considers the request, a number of public hearings will be held to gauge customers reactions to this increase.
Florida Power and Light is looking to raise their rate a substantial amount to help ease the pain of the deep recession.
According to Florida Power, the proceeds from this increase, expected to be about $1.3 billion would go to into increasing the efficiency of existing plants, along with upgrading its nuclear plants.
The utility company has some 4.5 million customers, statewide.
Many question the proposed rate hike at this time with Florida in the midst of a brutal recession and an unemployment rate of 10.2 percent.
The Florida Municipal Electric Association that conducted a recent survey has found that, Florida Power and Light customers pay the lowest rate among the state’s major electric utilities.
