Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves bill to require hearings and reporting for utilities serving outside city limits
Summary
HB 1451 would require public hearings and annual customer meetings for municipal utilities that serve customers outside municipal boundaries, add annual reporting to the Florida Public Service Commission, and reduce allowable extraterritorial surcharges to 25% (amendment); supporters cited transparency while cities raised timing and resource concerns.
Representative Posada presented HB 1451, a bill targeting transparency and accountability for municipal utilities that provide retail service outside municipal boundaries. The sponsor said the bill would require a public hearing in affected service areas, annual customer meetings and data reporting to the Florida Public Service Commission.
Posada introduced an amendment that removes a proposed 10% cap on transfers to general revenue and reduces an allowed surcharge cap for extraterritorial customers from 50% to 25%. "The amendment ... provides language that reduces the 50% cap of added fees to 25%," the sponsor said.
Rebecca O'Hara of the Florida League of Cities testified in support of transparency goals but warned smaller utilities may not have budgeted for rate studies required to justify separate extraterritorial rates and that the effective date may not provide adequate time for compliance. She explained that a municipality seeking separate rates will likely need a formal rate study and then a hearing in the extraterritorial area.
The committee adopted the amendment by voice and later voted to report HB 1451 favorably.
