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FPL rate hike
I speak here as a disgruntled FPL customer ( Is there any other kind?). What ticks me, and probably others, off as much as the rate hike is the way they insult my intelligence with their lame corporate rationalizations.
FPL says that lower fuel charges and increases in efficiency will more than offset the new kilowatt-hour base rate increase, in fact lowering our total bills. If they're doing so well with all these economies, what do they need to raise our base rate for?
They say we pay less per kilowatt-hour than customers of other Florida utilities. Could this be because FPL is the biggest, and benefits from economies of scale? And, just because other utilities rip their customers off more than ours does, is that a valid reason to increase our rates?
It wouldn't be quite as bad if our service weren't so spotty. A storm doesn't have to be a hurricane to douse the power at my house. Probably true for yours, too.
On top of all that, they're picking a lousy time to do this. By further strangling homes and businesses in an already stumbling economy, they make it that much harder for their customers to claw their way back to prosperity someday. Less money for them, in the long run.
To put it kindly (and there's no reason that I should), this business tactic lacks foresight.
CHAN LOWE
Comments
What's the problem? Just boycott FPL and use a competing power company. Oh wait, there is no competing power company. Our beneficent government has seen fit to give FPL a monopoly with a guaranteed rate of profit.
If we did that with shoes, we'd all have one pair costing $300 with a choice of ugly too loose or ugly too tight.
Allow competition. Allow other companies to offer alternative power choices. Make FPL earn that profit with good service. Or else we can continue following in the footsteps of the Soviet system.
Posted by: Lolly | June 24, 2009 5:07 PM
Remember:
F stands for favors
P stands for politics
L stands for lies
PSC will approve, without a doubt. PSC has NEVER disapprove of anything FPL does!They all sleep together. And people say it is the economy. People are moving out of Florida except the rich.
Posted by: susan | June 25, 2009 10:33 AM
FLP is a monopoly. Therefore, they should be regulated as to the profit they can earn. They need to be profitable, but gouging is not the preferred method of the customer. It obviously is the preferred method of FPL.
The PSC is a puppet of all "public utilities" in FL.
This used to be such a great state in which to reside.
State and local governement, as well as the PSC and outfits like FPL, have ruined it and continue in the downfall.
Posted by: JayW | June 25, 2009 12:42 PM
Go ahead F.P and L. and do like the Government and steal more money from everyone. It as to stop some were or people are not even going to beable to live on the streets.
Posted by: Raymond | June 25, 2009 4:04 PM
Someone should ask them about all of the "special recovery" clauses. This is the reason they have left the base rate alone since 1985. These special recovery clauses substituted for base rate hikes. Shame on the executive team, their million dollar bonus, the LAND ROVER SUV's company paid for, etc.
Posted by: Tony | June 25, 2009 4:40 PM
The problem is not just FPL...it's that our state officials have handed over the reins to them when it comes to any effort at regulation of Florida's only electric company.
Talk conflict of interest, Tallahassee is a garbage heap of corruption & the PSC are the biggest bunch of butt lickers to be had.
And boy have we been had.
Posted by: Bob | June 25, 2009 8:29 PM
"Tallahassee is a garbage heap of corruption"
I think that is a fair statement. It is applicable to some degree to every state capital. It is certainly true of Mordor on the Potomac, Washington, DC.
Posted by: Lolly | June 26, 2009 8:39 AM
this reminds me a lot of what Obama is trying to do with health care - and how its going to pay off in the long term but easy to bash right now
Posted by: rayf | June 26, 2009 9:19 AM
When can we expect a decision on the proposed rate increase from FPL ?
Marvin
Posted by: Marvin Gibson | September 8, 2009 1:56 PM
Disban the PSC and let FPL do what they want. The only things change in this country is when they ram into the wall.
Posted by: jb | September 9, 2009 6:46 AM