State lawmakers want greater scrutiny on the Florida Public Service Commission and its relationship with the utility companies it regulates.
Members of the regulatory agency will soon go before a house subcommittee considering a bill aimed at adding transparency to how the commission operates.
The bill (HB 219) sponsored by Rep. Kathleen Peters, R-South Pasedena, requires commission members hold annual public hearings around the state in regions where a particular power company provides services.
The proposal would also require annual ethics training for Public Service Commission members and revise rules regarding utility billing practices.
The bill comes in response to accusations the PSC too often makes decisions siding with companies at the expense of their customers.
The measure is now before a House Energy and Utilities Subcommittee, which is chaired by Rep. Dane Eagle, R-Cape Coral. “Transparency in government everywhere is something that needs to be lookeda t and we will be addressing that,” said Eagle on Monday.
“I just got off the phone with our staff and we’ll be having a presentation from the Public Service Commission on their accountability, the existing structure and if there’s room to make that more transparent on behalf of the citizens of Florida, we will be doing that.”
That meeting is scheduled for Feb. 2. Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater has filed the companion measure (SB 288) in the Senate.
