Florida Utilities Raise Rates by $20 Amid Hurricane Recovery Costs

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — TECO and Duke Energy announced that starting this month, customers will see an increase of approximately $20 per month on their bills. The utilities attributed the rate increase to the financial impact of Florida’s recent hurricanes, which caused widespread outages for millions of customers, necessitating extensive repair costs.

“Our company had to basically deploy 27,000 resources. Those are things like linemen, vegetation management, and staff to support the restoration efforts to get the lights back on for our customers,” said Ana Gibbs, a spokesperson for Duke Energy Florida.

However, some customers, like Calista Snider, expressed frustration over the additional charges. “There are damages to my property and my home that I have not been able to financially afford to repair yet. So, hearing about having to pay higher bills so TECO can repair their properties and their equipment is very upsetting,” Snider stated.

In addition to TECO and Duke Energy, Florida Power & Light is also seeking to raise rates by more than one billion dollars over four years. “This is the largest utility rate request in the history of the United States,” Brooke Ward, a Florida Power & Light representative, noted.

Consumer advocate Walter Smith II highlighted concerns regarding the impact of rising energy costs on low-income households. “They might live in low-income areas, they may be in public housing, and because of that they have a difficult time paying electric bills,” Smith said. “They had to make a choice between buying medication that will keep them alive versus paying a utility bill.”

Both TECO and Duke Energy stressed that the rate increases would be temporary. TECO’s hike is expected to last for 18 months, while Duke Energy customers will experience the increase for one year. The utilities also mentioned that they offer various assistance programs for customers struggling to pay their bills.

TECO customers can reach out for support at 888-223-0800 or by visiting their payment assistance page. Duke Energy Florida has several programs available to help customers manage their energy bills as well.