Tallahassee, FL — Today, the Florida Senate swore in Ana Ortega and Bobby Payne to serve on the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC). The PSC is responsible for ensuring Floridians receive their utilities in a safe, reasonable, and reliable manner and at fair prices.

At a hearing this afternoon, the new Commissioners dodged questions by State Senators on project investment in communities, responsibilities of the PSC, and the involvement of the Office of Public Counsel — who represents the people of Florida — in rate cases. Ortega did say OPC should be included in future rate cases.

The new commissioners enter amidst skyrocketing electricity bills and a push in Tallahassee to reform how the PSC handles rate hike requests. Senator Carlos Guillermo-Smith introduced the Affordable Energy Reform Act in January to reform PSC regulation to rein in utility profiteering and lower energy bills. According to Food & Water Watch research, between December 2020 and January 2026, the PSC approved increasing Florida utility bills by:

• 85% for Tampa Electric customers
• 44% for Duke Energy customers
• 38% for Florida Power & Light customers

“We’ve seen little evidence that Desantis’s new PSC Commissioners will be any different than his past appointees that have routinely favored corporate utility profits off the back of Florida’s residents,” said Jorge Aguilar, Southern Regional Director with Food & Water Watch. “At this pivotal moment, our legislators must champion transparency and accountability for all by passing the Affordable Energy Reform Act to rein in corporate profiteering and deliver Floridians the energy they need at prices they can afford.” 

Upset at the PSC has mounted during DeSantis’ tenure and has grown in the last year as Commissioners approved Florida Power and Light’s near-$7 billion rate hike — the largest in United States history. 

“With electricity bills climbing across Florida, the confirmation of new PSC commissioners is about more than procedure,” said Mary Gutierrez, Director and Scientist with Earth Ethics, Inc. “it’s about whether everyday Floridians will be able to afford to keep their lights on. Senators should use these hearings to demand clear commitments to fairness, transparency, and strong consumer protections.”

“Floridians are being crushed by rising utility bills while the Public Service Commission continues to greenlight massive rate hikes for powerful utility companies. As new commissioners step into their roles, they must remember who they serve: working families, seniors, and small businesses, not corporate shareholders” stated Carolina Wassmer, Florida State Director for Poder Latinx. “Florida needs a PSC that prioritizes affordability, transparency, and accountability, and that starts with passing the Affordable Energy Reform Act to rein in utility profiteering and protect our communities.”
“When we ask our members throughout the state what their number one concern is with energy they always tell us the same thing – ‘cost.’ Everyone’s rent is going up, their groceries are getting more expensive, and their light bills are a major contributor to their feelings of economic insecurity,” said Brian Lee, Campaigns Director with ReThink Energy Florida. “The common-sense PSC reforms in the Affordable Energy Reform Act would go a long way towards restoring accountability to Florida’s utility regulators.”