​​Today, 27 small local businesses in Glades, Hendry, and Collier counties sent letters organized by Food & Water Watch to Senator Kathleen Passidomo and Representative Lauren Melo, calling for public support of affordable energy legislation. This comes on the heels of an historic nearly $7 billion Florida Power & Light (FPL) rate hike that went into effect this January.

Advocates believe the Public Service Commission approved a rate hike that benefits large industrial customers at the expense of small businesses. 

The letter delivered to Senator Passidomo and Representative Melo, in part, reads, “Local residents and businesses cannot afford continued rate increases, especially as energy consumption and bills surge during the hot summer months. It is the duty of our representatives to do the right thing and support affordable energy reform that stands with Floridians, not monopoly utilities, and ensures affordable, reliable and resilient energy that works for every community.”

Food & Water Watch South Florida Organizer Solemi Hernandez said, “High energy bills are costing everybody. Your hair dresser down the road, the dentist up the street, and local mom-and-pop diners — the lifeblood of communities — are having to make tough financial choices. We need our leaders and lawmakers to stand up for the prosperity of our small businesses and local economy by publicly pledging to support affordable energy reform. Senator Passidomo and Representative Melo have the opportunity to champion the small business owners in our community struggling with outrageous electricity bills that threaten to price them out of operation.”

“Affordable energy is essential for small businesses to survive and grow,” said Olga Martinez, owner of Caracol Latino, a retail store in Naples. “ Fair utility rates mean stronger local economies.”

“As a small business, every bill matters. When energy costs go up, we feel it immediately. Affordable energy would give businesses like ours the stability we need to focus on serving our customers instead of worrying about skyrocketing electricity bills,” said Edgar Alvarado, owner of Edgar’s Automotive Repair, an auto body shop in Naples.

The call for local action comes as the Florida Legislature failed to advance affordable energy legislation this past session, including the Affordable Energy Reform Act which would Insulate consumers from high fuel cost fluctuations, rein in utility profiteering, and increase transparency and public accountability around rate hike proceedings. The Office of Public Counsel, which Florida Power & Light excluded from its rate case settlement last year, is appealing the utility’s most recent rate hike to the Florida Supreme Court due to concerns over corporate utility profiteering.