Customers will pay for new buried power lines around the state under legislation now headed to gover
Floridians may have a better chance of keeping their lights on after a major storm under legislation on its way Gov. Ron DeSantis. But they’ll likely pay for that protection with higher utility bills.
With little opposition, the Legislature backed a measure (SB 796) that will allow the private utility companies like Florida Power & Light Co. to directly pass along the cost of burying utility lines and other storm-protection measures to their customers. About 40 percent of the power lines for the state’s three largest private utility companies are now underground. The legislation would expand that. One rough estimate placed the cost of the new storm charges at $30 billion.
Utilities are among the most influential groups in Tallahassee, with legions of lobbyists. They say customers will benefit from underground power lines because it’s more likely the power will stay on during a storm, and crews will be able to restore power faster once the storm passes.
Opponents – including seniors on fixed incomes – say creating a separate “cost recovery” mechanism for underground lines and other “storm-hardening” measures will hurt consumers.
Read more: https://www.floridaphoenix.com/2019/05/23/customers-will-pay-for-new-buried-power-lines-around-the-state-under-legislation-now-headed-to-governor/
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