Tampa, FL — Last summer, Tampa Electric (TECO) residential ratepayers’ June energy costs were the highest in Florida and the second highest in the nation, resulting in record bills in July. Since then, TECO has raised rates twice. Between June 2025 and now, TECO residential bills increased $10.85 more per month, or 6.5 percent. Inflation has risen at 2.37 percent.

As the summer months kick off, high summer energy use and costs come against the backdrop of widely opposed rate hikes. Food & Water Watch analysis finds that between December 2020 and January 2026, Florida utility regulators approved bill increases for TECO residential customers using 1,000kWh/month of 86 percent, or $980 more annually. 

In response, Florida State Director of Food & Water Watch Brooke Ward issued the following statement:

“Florida’s corporate utilities are raking ratepayers over the coals. This effort is sponsored by the governor and his board of utility regulators who have allowed TECO to rack up prices, rate hike after rate hike, pushing bills amongst the highest in the entire country. Those bills show no signs of letting up.

“Floridians deserve the energy we need at prices we can afford — our elected officials must make it happen. Florida needs affordable energy reform. As the temperature and our bills rise, residents and advocates will continue to sound the alarm until every person is able to afford keeping the lights on and the air conditioning running.”

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