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FPL Rate Hike Hearing Moves Forward

Florida Power and Light is trying to raise electricity rates by $690-million dollars a year.

Despite opposition, the utility company made its case for the rate hike Monday during the first day of two-weeks of hearings with the Public Service Commission.

As part of a proposed settlement presented last week, FPL says it won't raise rates for large commercial customers like hospitals or military operators, but will for residential and business customers.

The utility wanted to bring up the settlement during its rate case hearings, but the council argued that FPL was trying to gain an unfair advantage by doing so.

FPL's lawyers argued it's normal to try to reach a settlement in a rate case.

The PSC turned down the Counsel's request to delay the hearings.

This is the second time in three years FPL has asked to raise rates. It says it needs the money to build new, more fuel efficient power plants.

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