Consumers and power companies are sparring over rising bills. The Florida Supreme Court will get the final word.
Customers, large and small, residential and business, across Florida will see the future of their power bills play out this year before the state Supreme Court.
Consumer groups and the state Office of Public Counsel have a challenge pending over the Public Service Commission's approval of TECO rates. A similar challenge looks likely over Florida Power & Light rate increases reached in a settlement with several groups including big business.
Large power users will "enjoy rates that barely go up, paid for with massive increases to real Floridians," Earthjustice attorneys said in a brief filed on behalf of clients Florida Rising, The League of United Latin American Citizens and the Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida.
FPL says the four-year rate deal will keep customer bills "well below" the national average while funding new power generation and battery storage and improving the grid that delivers power.