Paying big for power

---

FPL customers will see big rate increases.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Unprecedented rate hikes are on the way for Florida's electric customers.

The Florida Public Service Commission has ruled that five utility companies can raise their rates to cover higher fuel costs.

The companies argued they needed an extra $3.3 billion to cover their soaring fuel expenses.

The average bill for Florida Power and Light customers will increase 18 percent to almost $109 a month, a $17 increase on a typical 1,000 kilowatt hours per month.

Progress Energy and Tampa Electric have similar increases coming down the pike.

Florida Power and Light spokesman Bill Swank says the company is not making a penny off of the rate hikes for higher fuel costs.

The new rates will take effect in January.

Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All right reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

More State Stories

• New law means higher fees in civil court
• Walt Disney World monorail crash kills employee
• Teen's 911 hoax sends 9 agencies searching for her
• To avoid state tax, Florida smokers head to Georgia
• Autopsy completed on child who was killed by python
• Floridians will have to pay for saltwater fishing
• Florida child strangled by Python
• Dozens of new laws hit the books today
• PSC orders Progress Energy to refund $7.6 million

Contact Bay News 9

• Story ideas for our Assignment Desk
• Comments on Bay News 9 or BayNews9.com
• Bay News 9 Now (our news alert system)
  
• Neighborhood News (tell us about your event)

• Listen live
• Employee blogs
• Widget
• More services

• Breaking news alerts
• RSS news feed
• Upload video

Select the size text you want to use to view www.baynews9.com from the choices below.

Want to go green?

Going green is all the rage these days. Check out our green pages on BayNews9.com.

• Energy saving tips
• Eating green
• County by county recycling

Bay News 9's Partners

Become An Asterisk Hunter!

At Bright House Networks, we prefer to keep things simple.

So the next time you're looking for TV, home phone and Internet service with a 30-day, money-back guarantee, but without the fine print surprises, call

1-866-976-EASY.

Learn more at AsteriskHunters.com.