The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) today unanimously approved Tampa Electric’s proposed base-rate settlement that takes effect in November.
As result of the settlement, the monthly bill for the average residential customer who uses 1,000 kilowatt-hours will rise by $5.67 a month, or 5.5 percent, to $108.25 from the current $102.58, beginning Nov. 1.
As previously announced, the settlement calls for an initial revenue increase of $57.5 million on Nov. 1, and additional “step” increases of $7.5 million and $5 million on Nov. 1 in 2014 and 2015, respectively. It also includes a $110 million increase when the expansion of the Polk Power Station is complete, expected in January 2017. Tampa Electric can't change its base rates again until 2018, except under certain conditions.
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“This settlement provides closure and clarity to a complex regulatory process,” said Gordon Gillette, president of Tampa Electric. “This is a fair resolution for all Tampa Electric customers – and we could not have achieved it without the dedicated work of all the groups working together to reach this constructive compromise.”
What do you think of the rate hike? Tell us in the comments.
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