Tallahassee, FL — Today, 28 elected officials from across the state — including Minority Leader Senator Lori Berman — sent a bipartisan open letter to Governor DeSantis and his Public Service Commission (PSC), calling on them to reject Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) rate hike request of nearly $10 billion — the largest in U.S. history. Technical hearings for FPL’s rate hike request began last Monday in Tallahassee. The letter will be submitted as evidence to the PSC’s official docket.

The letter, facilitated by the national environmental nonprofit Food & Water Watch, also requests that DeSantis and his PSC reject:

• Long-term rate hikes that lack transparency,
• Any utility return on equity (ROI) above the national average, and
• Continued investment in volatile fracked gas and other fuel costs driving much of the rate hikes.

“While already dealing with rising grocery bills, property insurance and auto insurance rates, Floridians can’t afford another large hike to their electricity bill. If big business groups can negotiate a deal for lower rates, then so should hardworking families,” said Senate Minority Leader Lori Berman.          

In August, FPL postponed the originally scheduled hearings by filing a settlement proposal with corporate and large-scale energy user groups that would put a heavier burden on residential rate payers. That settlement, as well as the original near-$10 billion request, is now being reviewed during the technical hearings.                                                                                               

“Record-setting electricity bills are slamming Floridians — FPL’s rate hike would add insult to injury. We applaud Minority Leader Berman, Collier County Commission, and other officials for taking a stand in support of their constituents,” said Food & Water Watch Senior Florida Organizer Brooke Ward, facilitator of the letter. “Mounting opposition is clear: community need must come before corporate greed. For too long, utility monopolies have called all the shots, deciding their own rates and profiting off our pain. As the legislature returns for committee weeks today, energy affordability must be their top priority.”

Bipartisan opposition to FPL’s rate hike is mounting. Earlier this year, a group of elected officials, led by Rep. Anna Eskamani, submitted a letter in opposition. In May, 30 local, state, and national organizations submitted a joint letter opposing the increase, as did the Manatee County Commission. The City of Pembroke Pines submitted objections in June, and the Collier County Commission unanimously passed a resolution rejecting FPL’s rate hike request in September.    

“I just want to send a message to the Governor, the Public Service Commission, our Speaker of the House, our Senate President, and our state reps to give them a clear message that the people of Collier County reject this proposal,” said Collier County Commissioner Chris Hall.

“FPL’s latest settlement proposal sticks working people and small businesses with billions in higher costs, while handing out sweetheart discounts to giant corporations. It even double-charges ratepayers in order to pad shareholder profits which are already among the highest in the nation,” said State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith. “For 12 million Floridians, that means some of the highest utility bills in America— just so that FPL shareholders can stay fat and happy.

“All of us need to be aware that one of the biggest lobbies in Tallahassee is our power companies. Our legislators need to be mindful of what these utilities are imposing upon our community,” said Collier County Commissioner Burt Saunders.

“The Public Service Commission should work for Floridians, not corporations. With the cost of living rising statewide, working families are struggling. Floridians can’t afford another rate hike that helps a corporation’s bottom line and hurts their pocketbooks! The commission must be transparent and accountable to the public, not corporate profits,” said State Representative Lindsay Cross.

“Floridians are being squeezed from every angle. From housing to insurance to groceries, and now FPL wants to pile on with another massive rate hike. This is not about reliability or clean energy; it’s about corporate greed,” said State Representative Anna V. Eskamani. “Families and small businesses shouldn’t be treated like ATMs for shareholder profits. We need an energy system that is affordable, accountable, and built to serve people, not corporate executives. And we need a Public Service Commission that agrees and will fight for consumers, not consent to utilities.”

“Floridians are already struggling with rising costs. We don’t need a record breaking rate hike to pad corporate profits,” said Vice Mayor of Coral Springs Nancy Metayer Bowen. “Our communities deserve fair, transparent, and affordable energy, not another burden.”