Bradenton, FL — Today, residents organized by the Food & Water Watch and the Hillsborough Affordable Energy Coalition called on Senate President-Elect Jim Boyd to publicly support affordable energy reform. Given that April and May are the peak months for fishing in the Tampa Bay region, advocates urged Boyd to help ‘reel in’ utilities by holding utilities accountable for astronomical electricity bills.

Food & Water Watch analysis found that between December 2020 and January 2026,

• TECO bills increased 86% — about $980 more annually
• Duke bills increased by 49% — about $747 more annually
• FPL increased 45% — about $511 more annually

“While Florida families have seen electricity bills go through the roof, CEOs of Florida’s corporate energy utilities are making multi-million dollar salaries,” said Food & Water Watch Florida Organizer Isabella Moeller. “Florida’s corporate energy utilities don’t care whether Floridians sink or swim, as long as they’re collecting record profits from our sky high energy bills. Lawmakers like Senator Boyd can help reel in the corporate profiteering inflating our bills and champion affordability legislation for Manatee County families — not these utility sharks preying on ratepayers.”

According to a report released last month by the CLEO Institute, in 2024 the CEO of Tampa Electric made $2.4 million; Duke’s CEO made $6.3 million; and FPL’s CEO made $11.4 million. Furthermore, the report showed that customers of Tampa Electric, Duke Energy, and Florida Power & Light paid 3 of the 10 highest bills in the country last year.

“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. “Students and families alike are truly struggling with price increases across Tampa Bay. We need Senate President-Elect Jim Boyd to prioritize affordability for our families, and that starts with lowering these utility bills.”

“The issues of climate justice cannot be separated from the issue of basic justice for all. There is no republican water. There is no liberal electricity. These are things in the fullness of God’s will we are able to enjoy,” said Reverend James Golden. “And my prayer is that we move more and more towards using them equitably. And one way to do that is by passing affordable energy reform.”

“Affordable Energy is a huge concern for working-class families across this country, but particularly here in the Tampa Bay region, where TECO customers paid the second highest bills in the country last summer, and FP&L customers were delivered the biggest rate hike in US history last year,” said Todd Randolph, Sierra Club Tampa Bay Group. “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.”

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.