Florida Power & Light Company has filed a plan to reduce customer fuel charges by $379 million beginning in May to partially offset proposed bill increases to pay for last year's two hurricane restorations and high fuel costs.
The proposal filed with the Florida Public Service Commission would reduce the fuel charge on the typical 1,000-kWh residential customer bill by $4.43 a month, including taxes and fees, from May through December — reflecting a second downward revision in projected natural gas costs for 2023 after last year's high levels.
"This is good news for customers," said Armando Pimentel, president and CEO of FPL. "We recognize that sharp inflation is impacting our customers and that every dollar counts which is why we are pleased to provide relief to customers as fuel prices have moderated."
The PSC is considering proposals FPL submitted in January to increase customer bills in April to recover $1.3 billion in incremental restoration costs from Hurricanes Ian and Nicole and $2.1 billion to make up for higher-than-projected natural gas costs in 2022.
To partially offset these proposed increases, FPL's January filing also called for decreasing projected 2023 fuel charges by $1 billion due to an expected drop in natural gas prices below original projections. The proposal to reduce fuel charges by $379 million is in addition to the earlier $1 billion proposed reduction.
WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. We are a nonprofit public service, and your support is more critical than ever. Keep public media strong and donate now. Thank you.