Politics

What the FPL rate increase means to Floridians

Published

6 months ago

July 24, 2025

As Florida enters the height of hurricane season, grid reliability is top of mind. However, with fast-paced growth and rising costs, energy affordability is becoming an increasingly important part of the conversation.

Florida Power & Light (FPL), the state’s largest electric utility, has submitted a new four-year rate proposal to the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC). The details are still under negotiation and will be the subject of public hearings beginning August 11.

The plan aims to balance the cost of significant infrastructure investments with long-term rate predictability for customers across the state.

Since 2006, FPL has improved its system reliability by 40%, placing it among the top-performing utilities in the nation. In 2024 alone, smart-grid and self-healing technologies helped avoid 2.7 million outages, including more than 800,000 during Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton.

These upgrades, along with expanded efforts to bury power lines and harden poles, are designed to reduce storm-related outages and speed up recovery.

In Brevard County, dozens of projects are already underway to prepare the grid ahead of peak hurricane activity.

In its February filing with the PSC, FPL stated that the proposed rate plan would support continued investment in critical infrastructure and smart-grid technologies, as well as low-cost solar, battery storage, and nuclear generation, to help meet growing demand and protect customers from fuel price volatility.

Even with the proposed increases, FPL notes that residential bills would remain well below the national average. Adjusted for inflation, the typical 2026 bill would still be about 20 percent lower than it was in 2006. Business customers are projected to see average annual increases between one and five percent. The company cites inflation in labor, equipment, and materials as key cost drivers, with transformer prices more than doubling since 2021.

FPL’s rate proposal is also tied to Florida’s broader economic outlook, particularly the state’s growing digital infrastructure. With a newly extended sales-tax exemption for data centers through 2037, state leaders are positioning Florida as a top destination for large-scale digital investment. According to former PSC Chair Lila Jaber, a 600-megawatt data center campus could have more than 30 times the economic impact of Amazon’s fulfillment center in Tallahassee.

Supporters of data centers argue that including their rates in FPL’s current proposal is crucial to providing companies with the certainty they need to invest in Florida now, rather than risk losing those projects to faster-moving states.

Last week, the Florida Supreme Court upheld PSC’s approval of FPL’s 2021 rate settlement, affirming the Commission’s role in ensuring utility decisions are grounded in evidence and subject to public oversight.

The ruling, in a six-to-one decision, found that regulators acted on competent and substantial evidence.

The outcome of this rate case may have implications beyond monthly electric bills, potentially influencing the state’s long-term approach to energy and infrastructure planning.

Post Views: 0

Source link

Politics

Matt McCullough joins race to replace Matt Carlucci on Jacksonville City Council

Published

6 minutes ago

January 21, 2026

May Greene

A third candidate has joined the race in Jacksonville City Council at-large Group 4 to replace term-limited Matt Carlucci.

“After thoughtful discussions and with the support of my family, I am excited to officially announce my candidacy,” Matt McCullough said in a statement announcing his bid.

McCullough, a former Navy pilot who flew during the global war on terror in Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Active Endeavor, and has received two Air Medals, Navy Commendation Medals, a Meritorious Service Medal, and recognition as both Combat Aircrew of the Year and Pilot of the Year.

He currently is North Florida’s Navy Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer, and believes that his military background is a unique value-add as he enters politics.

“As a veteran, I know what leadership and delivering results looks like. Jacksonville deserves a city government that works to put our residents first, keeps our neighborhoods safe, and invests responsibly in our future,” McCullough said. “I’ve had the honor of wearing our nation’s uniform and lead under pressure. I am ready to bring that leadership to City Hall on day one and continue my service on the Jacksonville City Council.”

Carlucci has yet to endorse in this race between three Republicans, in which a real front-runner has yet to emerge.

April Ethridge, an Army vet with an MBA, has raised just $1,550 after being in the race for the better part of 2025.

Andrew McCann, who made his career in medical services before he “made the pivotal decision to step away from corporate life to focus on his family, personal growth, and the betterment of Jacksonville,” raised and self-funded $13,100 since entering the race at the end of October.

Qualifying runs from noon on Jan. 11, 2027, to noon on Jan. 15, 2027. The First Election is March 9, 2027, while the General Election, which sees the top two finishers square off regardless of party label unless someone gets a majority in March, is May 18.

Source link

Politics

Nicole Gomez Goldmeier, Jackie Arboleda promoted at LSN Partners

Published

38 minutes ago

January 21, 2026

May Greene

Two weeks after announcing its first round of 2026 promotions, LSN Partners is following up with a couple more as it continues expanding its local, state and federal practices.

Round 2 includes the elevation of Nicole Gomez Goldmeier to Chief Growth Officer and Jackie Arboleda to Chief Marketing and Community Relations Officer.

Gomez Goldmeier previously held the COO title at LSN Partners. In her new role, she will drive revenue growth and business development for the firm with a focus on strengthening long-standing client relationships, advancing expansion into key markets driven by client demand, and supporting strategic engagement.

She will remain actively involved in the firm’s Republican Governors and Mayors practice, reinforcing LSN’s position as a trusted bipartisan adviser.

“Nicole understands our clients and the public-sector landscape in a way that few people do,” said Alex Heckler, founder and Managing Partner of LSN Partners. “She has played a central role in how we build relationships, identify opportunities, and position the firm for long-term success. This role formalizes the work she has already been leading.”

Arboleda, meanwhile, will oversee the firm’s marketing, communications, brand positioning and community engagement, ensuring that LSN’s messaging, events and external presence reflect the firm’s strategic priorities and client-focused initiatives.

LSN said she will continue serving as a leader within the firm’s health care practice while working directly with clients as a project manager, adding that her dual focus on marketing leadership and project management strengthens the firm’s ability to deliver results to clients across markets nationwide.

“Jackie has helped shape how clients experience and engage with LSN and how the firm is perceived in the market,” Heckler said. “Her understanding of our clients, our culture, and our mission allows her to deliver results at the highest level, whether in our healthcare practice or driving the firm’s communications strategy.”

Source link

Politics

Florida’s signature industry shows up for Tourism Day at the Capitol

Published

1 hour ago

January 21, 2026

May Greene

Tourism spending produces an estimated $2K in tax savings per Florida family, VISIT FLORIDA says.

Florida tourism and hospitality heavyweights will show up in force Wednesday at the Capitol to highlight the Sunshine State’s signature industry and make the case for continued state investment.

Groups participating in Florida Tourism Day at the Capitol include the Florida Attractions Association, Florida Association of Museums, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Florida RV Park and Campground Association, Destinations Florida, and VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s tourism marketing arm.

The cohort will spend the day meeting with lawmakers to emphasize the industry’s role as one of Florida’s primary economic drivers, top employers and major state revenue generators.

“The success of Florida’s tourism industry, and the economic and jobs benefits our state reaps from it, are the direct result of statewide and local tourism promotion efforts,” said Destinations Florida Executive Director Robert Skrob.

Florida Attractions Association President and CEO Bill Lupfer added, “Tourism is a cornerstone of Florida’s economy, supporting jobs, communities, and public services statewide. No destination in the world matches Florida’s number, quality and diversity of guest experiences or the cutting-edge service delivered by our attractions, making continued investment in tourism essential to sustaining our global leadership.”

According to a recent VISIT FLORIDA study, travelers spent a record $134.9 billion in the state in 2024 — up 3% from the prior year — and nearly all of it remained in Florida’s economy, with 59 cents of each dollar going directly to worker salaries. Meanwhile, tourism-related tax revenue reached $33.6 billion, while tourism-supported employment grew to 1.8 million jobs statewide.

VISIT FLORIDA President and CEO Bryan Griffin said the topline numbers translate to an estimated $2,000 in tax savings per Florida family, adding that his agency “remains diligently focused on partnering with Florida’s tourism industry and serving Florida’s residents through our important work.”

Source link