FL PSC Decision on Energy Efficiency Expected Today
Posted November 25, 2014 07:15 am
TALLAHASSEE, FL– A decision expected Tuesday from Florida's Public Service Commission (PSC) could impact how much the state's consumers pay for energy usage for years to come.
The PSC has been deliberating on requests from utilities, including Duke Energy, to cut benefits offered by money-saving energy efficiency programs and reduce incentives to incorporate renewable energy. Kelly Martin, senior campaign representative for the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign, says if big power companies get their wish, consumers will be getting a lump of coal.
"People's bills will go up because they will have to pay
for new, big, polluting power plants, and they won't
have the advantage of cost-saving measures through
energy-efficiency programs," she says.
The PSC is expected to side with utilities Tuesday after
its staff recommended they do so, despite the
recommendation of environmental groups they maintain or
even increase their energy-efficiency programs. The
staff recommendation noted energy-efficiency goals were
set five years ago and that natural gas prices have
dropped by roughly half since then, making a reliance on
fossil fuels less costly.
Martin says she hopes the PSC will surprise them with a
decision she says is in favor of the Florida consumer.
"We certainly hope the commission will serve the public
interest by rejecting the utilities' proposals, and
instead set high goals for energy efficiency which saves
consumers money," she says.
Some environmental advocates are suspicious of the PSC's
potential ruling in favor of utilities, particularly
after Duke Energy and Florida Power and Light spent more
than $2.5 million to help re-elect Governor Rick Scott
and other Republicans.
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