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PSC Approves Gulf Power Surcharge To Pay For Hurricane Michael Restoration
May 14, 2019
On Wednesday, the Florida Public Service Commission approved a Gulf Power plan to collect a storm charge to pay for Hurricane Michael restoration.
The surcharge is $8 a month for a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours a month of electricity, which the company said would still make the average customer’s bill lower than January 2018. Commercial and industrial customers will see bills increase by 3 to 8 percent depending on their rate plan.
The increase goes into effect in July and continues for five years.
“Hurricane Michael was the most destructive hurricane this region has ever seen, causing devastation that many in northwest Florida continue to recover from. We understand that restoring power following a major storm is a critical first step for the communities and customers that we serve,” said Marlene Santos, Gulf Power president. “The plan approved by the Florida Public Service Commission today recognizes those still recovering while ensuring we can continue to serve all of our customers with reliable service now and into the future.”
Gulf Power maintains a storm-recovery reserve to help offset expenses incurred after damages from storms like Hurricane Michael. For any expenses not covered by the storm-recovery reserve, Gulf Power must make a request before the FPSC. T
When restoring power and hope to storm-devastated communities like those seen in the wake of Hurricane Michael, the energy provider incurs all of the upfront costs of power restoration and rebuilding, including out-of-town crews, plus their housing, meals and transportation, security and more. Costs also include fuel for trucks, tree trimming, poles, transformers and power lines and many other materials.
Gulf Power crews continue to reconnect customers as they have their homes and businesses repaired and work to return the company’s smart grid back to pre-storm reliability.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
18 Responses to “PSC Approves Gulf Power Surcharge To Pay For Hurricane Michael Restoration”
As long as the utility doesn’t use the money to fill their troughs and enrich themselves from other people’s misery then it’s ok. However, was the duration calculated based on losses and projected revenue or randomly pulled from someone’s “hat” because their FCAT scores were low as a student and they are incapable of doing the math? It’s always problematic when an “official” such as commissioners representatives, etc. teams with corporate officers because power and money are such corrupting incentives. That said… Let’s us never become Puerto Rico with post-hurricane infrastructure problems. The fed also needs to step-up with emergency dollars but the current administration and their widespread ignorance of governance and leadership prevents them from doing so. Remember this when you vote and don’t put candidates into office that only want your vote but then ignore your needs as a citizen.
@ Sedition: Sure love to have some (personal) hydroelectric
Power. Where & how do I get it ? Solar ain’t so
good @ night and Wind ain’t good when it ain’t
blowing ! Having store bought electricity is a very
good product if it’s affordable!
This is so sad. I wonder if other power companies raised their rates after a hurricane. Gulf power needs to give back to the communities they service. Where is our FEMA and other funds during all of this? Trump needs to help with this.
They’re sure making personal solar, wind and hydroelectric power seem more attractive.
Soooo, they don’t get any money from FEMA or the government? IF they do, then why are they passing the buck?
That corporation doesn’t have loss insurance for this kind of thing?
GULP power has NO INCENTIVE to save money…If they spend everything they have they can just ask for aRATE INCREASE..>Think about that….
So, they get this for every hurricane in the future? Just where are they playing golf?
So this surcharge is really about another 1 cent
per KWH for 5 years? Are the other Utility Companies
increasing rates for their customers because they sent
crews in to help even though they weren’t affected by
the Hurricane? Good thing gas & water & sewer lines are
buried ! Are the Cable companies increasing rates ? prolly
not cause we could cancel them ASAP !
crooks
It was to be expected. After Gulf Power was purchased by Florida Power and Light, rate increases were a given. Little wonder why the citizens of Central and South Fl refer to FPL as “Florida Plunder & Loot”.
Once again the consumers take it in the backside to pay for lack of planning on the part of the monopoly business known as Gulf Power. They can stick it to consumers any way they want when they’re the only game in town AND they own a good part of the PSC. We have no defense as usual.
It’s like you don’t even need insurance! How neat is that
Is the surcharge of $8 on only the1st 1000 kWh ? Or on each 1000kwh ?
I don’t mind paying the extra $8.00 as long as the top brass doesn’t get bonuses. When they have extra money to pay large bonuses that makes me angry.
I think five years is too much. They will collect well over the amount that covers the actual work.
The coffers get fatter ensuring the security of the corporate bonuses, raises and retirement plans.
Poor guys! I’m sure they’ve been doing all of the repairs for free this whole time.