Bradenton, FL — Today, affordable energy advocates and impacted residents organized by Food & Water Watch gathered outside of Senate President-Elect Jim Boyd’s office to deliver a giant ‘Florida’s Electricity Bill’ highlighting over $7.4 billion in recently approved rate hikes from the last two years alone. Advocates urged the Senate leader to support the Affordable Energy Reform Act this session to address skyrocketing energy costs. 

The event comes as Tampa Electric (TECO) customers have seen substantial increases to their bills in the last few years. In June 2025, TECO customers paid the second highest bills in the nation. Ratepayer bills have increased 86% — about $980 more annually — between December 2020 and January 2026. In the last year alone, bills went up over 22% and ratepayers saw four separate increases go into effect in the past year, with the latest increase taking effect in January 2026. TECO’s last rate hike — which was approved despite regulator staff’s recommendation to cut the request in half — is currently being appealed by consumer advocates in the Florida Supreme Court.

Last month, Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith introduced the Affordable Energy Reform Act (SB1532), with the endorsement of Food & Water Watch. Two other bills aimed at addressing affordability issues have also been introduced in the Florida legislature: SB126 introduced by Senator Don Gaetz and HB187 introduced by Representative Alex Andrade. 

“At a time when Florida families continue to see their electricity bills increase by hundreds of dollars annually, energy utilities like TECO are making record profits off their backs — we need our elected officials to do more to reign in corporate greed,” said Food & Water Watch Florida Organizer Isabella Moeller. “As the next Senate leader, President-elect Boyd can be a champion by supporting affordable energy legislation that will lower electricity bills for every Floridian.”

The Affordable Energy Reform Act would help lower electricity bills by changing the way utility regulators approve rate hikes, capping excessive profits that enrich shareholders, shifting responsibility for fossil fuel costs back to utilities instead of ratepayers, and making the rate approval process more accountable and transparent.

Linda Taylor, Magnified Voices said, “Monopolies have consequences! TECO has no competition, so Floridians have no protection against frequent and unreasonable rate hikes for electricity. We’re asking our legislators to support affordable energy legislation now.”

“I have been a TECO customer for well over 22 years. I’ve watched my rates climb steadily over the years, but never more outrageously and quickly than in the last several years. As a constituent of Senator Boyd, I expect him to represent me and my neighbors in Sun City Center,” said Debbie Anderson, TECO customer and constituent of Senator Boyd. “We are senior citizens, many on a fixed income, who cannot afford the outrageous and continuous hikes in electric bills. It’s bad enough there is no protection forthcoming from Tallahassee on homeowners insurance, health care costs or even grocery prices. It’s time Senator Boyd acted in the interests of the people who put him in office. Affordable energy is a perfect first step.”