Florida Power and Light says it needs additional funds to pay for a new power plant and improved services.
- Florida Power & Light requests rate hike
- Utility mostly serves east coast counties, along with parts of Manatee and Sarasota
- Public Service Commission weighing request
And the $811 million it would need would come from customers over three years.
The state's Public Service Commission heard arguments Thursday on FP&L's request to raise rates.
The commission is now weighing the request.
The extra money would be used to make power poles and lines stronger, more resistant and more reliable, FPL said.
One of the biggest rate hikes in years, the increase would add about $14 a month to a customer's average bill.
Obviously, customers are not thrilled and some sounded off at the public hearing.
They said even if all the money is used to build a natural gas plant, the rate hike still wouldn't make sense in Florida, where solar power could be harnessed for much cheaper.
"FPL has failed to put forward analysis on those alternatives," said Diana Csank with the Sierra Club. "And, in fact, cites this commission instead to only other fracked-gas power plants, in plain violation of Florida law."
The PSC will vote on the issue in November. If approved, customers would see an increase starting in January.
The utility provides power to 4.6 million customers in north Florida and along Florida's east coast in addition to parts of Florida's southwest coast, including Manatee and Sarasota.