By Kat Stansell
November 16, 2025
Proposed Settlement Will Put Power Out of the Reach of Many
An estimated 20% of Floridians in the year Mar, 2024 – Feb, 2025, had their power turned off for non-payment of their bills, due in large part to the hot weather for which Florida is famous. Nationally, the number of people who fail to pay their power bills is nearer to 10%. Florida’s Public Service Commission (PSC) is about to grant its biggest utility, Florida Power and Light (FP&L), an annual increase of 20+% of its base rate.
Base rates exclude fuel costs, storm reserves, capacity costs (payments to other utilities for holding reserve power in case of emergencies); energy conservation programs, environmental “compliance” AND regional grid upgrades for transmission.
Public Counsel, Walt Trierweiler, appointed by Tallahassee to speak for the citizens on the matter of rate hike requests by FP&L, filed an official complaint 11/10/25, on the massive rate hikes requested by the power giant. He states that the settlement with Florida Power and Light, as proposed, will lead to unconscionable rate hikes.
“The proposed settlement “is in the special interest of a few,” Walt Trierweiler wrote in new filings, in which he repeatedly referred to the settlement as the “Special Interest Parties’ Proposal.” It’s also not legally valid, he argued, because it doesn’t represent a compromise between parties that were genuinely at odds and is therefore “against public policy, and against the public interest.”
The settlement proposes to lower the total increase to about $7 billion, with a range of shareholder profit with a midpoint of 10.95% — which would still be the highest in the lower 48 states, according to Trierweiler’s filing. This rate of return, he wrote, would result in the company charging customers $900 million “in excess revenues” over four years.
I’m guessing that his comments will make little difference to the final outcome. Citizens often don’t rank high on the pecking order in Tally.
In August, Florida’s Public Service Commission voted to give Florida Power and Light a suspension of the scheduled rate hearing to give the company and its key stakeholders a chance to finalize a 4-year rate hike agreement. This was opposed by a number of citizens’ groups.
In addition to Florida Power & Light, the groups backing the deal include a federation of retail companies, industrial corporations and Walmart. Under the deal, revenue from all customers would subsidize increasing discounts on large companies’ energy usage during peak times. Read that again. PLEASE.
Last summer, Florida citizens protested proposed rate hikes by the big three energy suppliers in the state: Duke Power TECO (Tampa), and Florida Power and Light. They submitted proper forms, contacted their legislatures, only to find that the promised “hearing” in which they would be able to state their case, was “postponed”, on Aug. 11.
From October 6 through October 17, 2025, The PSC held “evidentiary” and technical hearings on a reduced $6.9 billion (down from the original $9.8 billion) rate hike request. They included expert witnesses on costs, return on equity (whose?) and impact on customers. There was no citizen testimony on record.
Trierweiler’s formal complaint was filed on the last day allowed, 11/10/2025.
The Public Service Commission’s decision is scheduled to be handed down 11/20/15.
As far as I can tell, the plan still calls for 50-70% of the budget to be spent on solar energy (panels and storage), and, I would assume, land acquisition for solar farms, causing more destruction of agriculture and wildlife. Upgrades to existing natural gas and nuclear generation are planned to consume a minor portion as is wind generation.
Solar, as we remember, provides power for an average of approximately 5.4 hours per 24-hour day, according to energy expert, Dave Walsh, former Pres. and CEO of Mitsubishi/Hitachi Power Systems. Rate hikes to individual property owners are anticipated to be in the range of 20+% annually, year on year, for less and less actual power
The hearings in May and June had several thousand citizens speaking, most ALL AGAINST the requested budget and its planned use.
Other than lowering the “ask” from $9.8 billion to $6.9 billion I can find no evidence that these citizen complaints had impact. Typical Tallahassee.
“Since DeSantis took office as Governor in 2019, Florida’s energy future has become all about solar – the “clean energy”. If this sounds something a Globalist would do, you are hearing it correctly. Once more, Florida’s governor proves who he really is. Hint: Ron DeSantis is NOT “America First.” This, from my Substack last summer.
Bingo. On all counts.
So, if you want to talk to your Tallahassee representative, and are sick of their ignoring the purging of MAGA patriots, you can remind them of how much you object to the massive power base-rate increases that they are approving on your behalf.
Maybe those rich New Yorkers who are fleeing their new Islamo-Communist Mayor will be able to afford those power bills, but much of Florida cannot.
© 2025 Kat Stansell – All Rights Reserved
E-Mail Kat Stansell: katvanatt@protonmail.com
