TAMPA - They came from homes where air conditioners sat silent, relief from the heat a luxury they can no longer afford. They came between shifts - cleaning houses, installing floors, pouring drinks - earning wages that no longer stretch as far as they need. They came exasperated, after shelling out for solar panels only to still feel the pinch of energy costs.
For hours in three different counties last week, Tampa Bay residents implored state utility regulators to say no to higher rates in their electric bills. These local, in-person hearings are so rare they haven’t happened for Duke Energy and Tampa Electric customers in more than a decade. Additional virtual hearings wrapped up Tuesday.
The Public Service Commission meetings offered a raw glimpse into a region where an affordable housing crisis, inflation and high electric costs collide. Dozens of residents told a governor-appointed commission how their families’ finances teetered. Higher electric bills, some warned, would mean skipping meals. One less birthday gift for their kids. More anxiety around insulin that must be kept cold.
Both Duke Energy and Tampa Electric Co. are seeking higher base rates - a major component of electric bills. The companies say the hikes, which would start next year, are needed to cover the costs of running their businesses, including adding more solar capacity. Together, the requests stand to impact more than 2.5 million Floridians.
Last year, the average Tampa Electric bill was the third highest in the nation compared to other utilities with more than 100,000 customers, according to a Tampa Bay Times analysis of federal data. The average bill for Duke Energy customers in Florida ranked fifth.
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