Florida's largest utility company wants to raise its rates by $690-million dollars a year.
Florida Power and Light will make its case today in a hearing with the Florida Public Service Commission.
FPL argues that it needs to charge customers more to build new power plants in Cape Canaveral, Rivera Beach and Port Everglades.
The utility tried late last week to delay today's hearing so the panel could look into a proposed settlement with groups representing industrial, health care and federal government customers.
The Commission chairman denied that request saying it was too late to postpone the hearing three working days before it was to begin.
FPL wanted to settle its rate increase request by offering incentives to the state's largest power users.
Public Counsel J.R. Kelly, who represents all utility consumers and the Florida Retail Federation, said the offer is worse for residential customers than the company's original plan.