Tampa, FL — Last night, at a community discussion forum hosted by the Hillsborough Affordable Energy Coalition, a packed room of residents called upon the City of Tampa to pass a resolution in favor of affordable energy reform in Tallahassee. The calls came just days before the state legislative session is poised to conclude without passage of affordable energy legislation, despite multiple proposed bills.

TECO bills have increased 86% — about $980 more annually — between December 2020 and January 2026. In the last year alone, TECO ratepayers saw their bills rise by over 22%, with four separate increases going into effect in the past year, the latest increase taking effect in January 2026. TECO’s 2024 rate hike, which went into effect last year, is being appealed to the Florida Supreme Court. The Office of Counsel has argued that TECO failed to adequately consider how the rate hikes would make it harder for Floridians to afford their electricity bills.

“As the legislative session nears closing, it’s surprising that Tampa Bay area leaders like Minority Leader Driskell and Senate President-Elect Boyd have yet to take a position on lowering electricity bills and supporting affordable energy for struggling families,” said Food & Water Watch Florida Organizer Isabella Moeller. “While no affordable energy legislation has been passed, affordability is a year-round conversation, which is why we’re asking the City of Tampa to take a stand on this issue. Our City officials must pass a resolution urging the Florida legislature to pass affordable energy legislation next session.”

“As a TECO customer, I’m tired of being asked to pay more year after year while corporate profits continue to grow.” said Alyssa White, Climate Justice Organizer with Florida Student Power. “The Florida Public Service Commission is supposed to protect consumers from unjust rates, yet they continue to rubber stamp each rake hike request. That is why we need our elected officials to stand with their constituents and reject these outrageous rate hikes and demand more affordable energy prices.” 

“Affordable Energy is a huge concern for working-class families across this country, but particularly here in Tampa Bay, where TECO customers paid the second highest bills in the country last summer,” said Todd Randolph with Tampa Bay Sierra Club. “With the threats of data centers being built and unstable international affairs increasing fuel costs, now is the time for lawmakers to act and protect us from further the outrageous rate hikes we suffered this past year.”

“Our elder members on fixed incomes all across Florida are looking for relief from rising costs on all fronts, particularly from electricity bills rising as a result of our hotter summers. We are calling on our state legislators to make the process of setting new utility rates more transparent, and the rates kept at affordable levels for our seniors forced to sweat it out in our legacy homes, many with outdated insulation and air conditioning systems. Our planet is crying out for responsible, sustainable energy supplies,” said Tom Caffery with Third Act-Florida. 

“Days like these show the real need that Floridians have for affordable energy. While corporate utilities spend millions of dollars trying to silence the affordability crisis that Floridians are facing, those same TECO customers that have been facing some of the highest bills in the country have spoken up, and its time for elected officials to step in and represent their constituents,” said Katina Rentas Negrón, Climate Justice Campaigner with Florida Rising.

In January, Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith introduced the Affordable Energy Reform Act (SB1532), with the endorsement of Food & Water Watch. 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.

This Hillsborough Affordable Energy Coalition event is in partnership with Food & Water Watch, Florida Rising, Florida Student Power, genCLEO, Sierra Club, Tampa DSA, Central Florida Jobs with Justice, & League of Latin American Citizens.