McCollum, Public Counsel Encourage FP&L Customers to Participate in Rate
Hike Hearings, Share Concerns
TALLAHASSEE, FL -- Attorney General Bill McCollum and Florida's Public
Counsel, J.R Kelly, today issued a consumer advisory on upcoming hearings to
be held by the Public Service Commission (PSC) on a proposed $1.3 billion
rate increase by Florida Power & Light (FP&L). The first of the hearings, at
which residents may air their concerns about the proposed increase, are
scheduled to take place in Sarasota and Ft. Myers on Friday June 19.
Additional hearings will occur over the following week throughout the FP&L
service area.

"This proposed rate increase is excessive, especially when homeowners are
already struggling to make ends meet," said Attorney General McCollum, whose
office has intervened before the PSC in the rate increase hearings. "While
the economy is affecting power companies, the difference should not be made
up entirely at the expense of Floridians' wallets."

Members of the Florida Counsel's Office and the Attorney General's Office as
well as representatives from the Florida Retail Federation, Florida
Industrial Power Users Group and AARP will also attend the hearings to hear
the concerns of Floridians and voice their opposition to the increase
proposed by Florida's largest public utility.

"These are difficult economic times for ordinary citizens, businesses and
state and local governments all over Florida," said Kelly, who represents
customers in utility cases before the PSC. "We all should be tightening our
belts rather than trying to raise prices and increase profits."

FP&L filed its request to increase its rates by $1.3 billion over a two-year
period. The increase would apply to the base rate portion of the bill which
accounts for approximately 42 percent of the total bill that customers pay
each month. The increase amounts to $12.55 per month, or 30 percent, of the
current base rates for customers who use 1,000 kilowatt hours per month,
although most customers use more.

"Utility monopolies have a special obligation to Florida's citizens. Without
competition to keep prices in line, the PSC is the protector of the people
and businesses they serve," said Rick McAllister, President and CEO of the
Florida Retail Federation. "The rate increase requested by Florida Power and
Light appears irrational and a disservice to the people of Florida. We
encourage business leaders to attend the public hearings and voice their
outrage."

The Palm Beach County hearing on the Petition for increase in rates by
Florida Power & Light Company will be held on June 24 at 4 PM at the PB
County Governmental Center, Jane Thompson Memorial Chambers, 6th Floor, 301
N. Olive Avenue.
There will be a total of nine customer hearings throughout the state, and
these hearings will be the only opportunities for customers to personally
address the PSC about FP&L service and the proposed rate increases. Both the
Attorney General and Kelly urged FP&L customers to attend the hearings to
voice their concerns and opinions. A full list of the hearing dates, times
and locations is available online at:
http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/MRAY-7SXH8B/$file/FPLCustomerHeari
ngs.pdf

"On behalf of our 3 million members statewide, we urge Floridians to attend
these hearings and share their views," said AARP Florida State Director Lori
Parham. "The hearings are Floridians' best opportunity to influence the
Public Service Commission on plans that could cost us more than $1 billion
in higher utility rates."

Customers who cannot appear at the hearing can share their concerns with the
PSC at its website, http://www.psc.state.fl.us/about/contact/form.aspx.
Formal proceedings on the rate increases start on August 24 in Tallahassee.

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