Public Input:
Important to PSC Commissioners in Rate Case Process

As regulators of the state's five investor-owned electric utilities, Florida Public Service Commissioners are charged with setting rates that are fair, just, and reasonable for customers, while also ensuring that utility companies have the capital to continue safe, reliable service. It’s a balancing act that we take very seriously, as our past record demonstrates.

On March 15, Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) filed a rate increase petition with the Public Service Commission (PSC) setting the rate case process in motion. As required by statute, over the next eight months the PSC will examine the hundreds of thousands of pages included in FPL’s filing before making a decision in November.

Customer input is one of the most important aspects of any rate case process, and we have scheduled nine public hearings in June in FPL's service territory. Along with my four colleagues, I look forward to hearing directly from FPL customers about the company’s request and its quality of service. By providing public comment at the hearings, customers provide valuable testimony that is imperative to our decision-making process. Customer service hearing locations, dates, and times are listed below, and watch for more information on your local news outlets as the dates draw closer.

When a utility files a rate application with the PSC, it must be accompanied by minimum filing requirements (MFRs) that minutely detail the need for the requested increase. MFRs include schedules and reports containing the operational, financial, economic, and rate information needed by PSC staff to evaluate the company’s revenue increase request, rate structure, and quality of service.

The utility also forecasts the revenues needed to cover next year's expenses. This filing includes the company’s proposed return on its assets, such as power plants, electric lines, or gas mains, which are used to pay interest on borrowed money and to compensate investors.

Each of these costs is scrutinized by the PSC to ensure that only prudently incurred expenses are passed on to ratepayers.

Customer input is an essential part of our ratemaking process, and I invite you to attend one of our public hearings. If you do not wish to comment publicly at a hearing, you can send your comments to the attention of the PSC docket number of interest (FPL’s docket number is 160021), 2540 Shumard Oak Blvd., Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0850. You may also call the PSC’s toll-free number, 1-800-342-3552, fax comments to 1-800-511-0809, or file comments electronically at: Contact@psc.state.fl.us. Both oral and written comments are reviewed and considered by the Commission when making its decision.

When the PSC staff prepares its final recommendation on a utility’s proposed rate request and the Commission makes its decision, an order will be issued. Any party may file a petition for the PSC to reconsider its decision. After reconsideration, the Public Counsel, the utility, or any other party involved in the proceeding may appeal the Commission’s decision to the Supreme Court.

Listening to consumers and their views is important to the Commission. I encourage you to visit our website atwww.floridapsc.com for access to current information about FPL’s rate case, or any other open dockets.

Julie I. Brown, FPSC Chairman      

For immediate access to PSC consumer information, download the free Barcode Scanner app on your smartphone, and scan our new 2d barcode (also called QR or quick response codes).

Commission Calendar

April News Releases

Florida PSC Commission Conference on Tuesday

Florida PSC Urges Residents to Call Before You Dig

Florida PSC Approves Contract between Peoples and UPS

PSC Customer Meeting for St. Joe Natural Gas Company, Inc.

PSC Customer Meetings for Utilities, Inc. of Florida

Florida Utility CEOs Present Hurricane Preparedness and Storm-Related Customer Communication Plans to PSC

Great Dane’s Tampa Branch Receives PSC’s Triple E Award

Suwannee River Regional Library Named PSC’s April Helping Hand

March / April Notable FPSC Dockets

Electric Industry
Docket No. 20150248
11/19/2015   -   Petition for approval of community solar pilot program, by Gulf Power Company.

Docket No. 20150263
12/11/2015   -   Petition for determination of need for Duval-Raven 230 kV transmission line in Baker, Columbia, Duval, and Nassau Counties, by Florida Power & Light Company.

Docket No. 20160001
01/04/2016   -   Fuel and purchased power cost recovery clause with generating performance incentive factor.

Docket No. 20160013
01/05/2016   -   Petition for declaratory statement regarding the Florida Public Service Commission's jurisdiction to adjudicate the Town of Indian River Shores' constitutional rights.

Telecommunications Industry
Docket No. 20150258
12/04/2015   -   Application for certificate to provide local telecommunications service, by InteleTel, LLC.

Docket No. 20160044
02/26/2016   -   Petition for expedited review of NXX-X code denial by Number Pooling Administrator for Miami exchange (Poinciana), by BellSouth Telecommunications, LLC d/b/a AT&T Florida.

Wastewater Industry
Docket No. 20150071
03/03/2015   -   Application for increase in wastewater rates in Monroe County by K W Resort Utilities Corp.

Water Industry
Docket No. 20150230
10/27/2015   -   Application for amendment of Certificate of Authorization No. 247-W, to extend water service area to include land in Seminole County, by Sanlando Utilities Corporation.

March / April Notable FPSC Orders

Electric Industry
Order No. PSC-2016-0091-FOF-EI   ♦ Docket No:   20150263
03/04/2016   -   Order PSC-16-0091-FOF-EI granting FPL's petition for determination of need for the transmission line in Baker, Columbia, Duval, and Nassau Counties; docket shall be closed.

Order No. PSC-2016-0119-TRF-EG   ♦ Docket No:   20150248
03/21/2016   -   Order PSC-16-0119-TRF-EG approving GPC's five-year community solar pilot program; termination of the optional PV Rider is effective 3/1/16 and all participants shall be notified with in 30 days; if a protest is filed within 21 days of issuance of the Order, the tariff shall remain in effect; if no protest, docket shall be closed upon the issuance of a CO; protest due 4/11/16.

Order No. PSC-2016-0120-PCO-EI   ♦ Docket No:   20160001
03/21/2016   -   Order PSC-16-0120-PCO-EI approving FPL's petition for mid-course correction; revised fuel factors to be effective with the first billing cycle in 4/16; docket to remain open.

Telecommunications Industry
Order No. PSC-2016-0100-PAA-TP   ♦ Docket No:   20160044
03/11/2016   -   PAA Order PSC-16-0100-PAA-TP directing Neustar to provide BellSouth Telecommunications with additional numbering resources for the Miami exchange; if no protest, order to become final and effective on issuance of CO; docket to be closed if order becomes final; protest due 4/1/16.

Order No. PSC-2016-0110-CO-TX   ♦ Docket No:   20150258
03/18/2016   -   Consummating Order PSC-16-0110-CO-TX makes Order PSC-16-0082-PAA-TX effective and final; docket shall be closed.

Wastewater Industry
Order No. PSC-2016-0123-PAA-SU   ♦ Docket No:   20150071
03/23/2016   -   PAA Order PSC-16-0123-PAA-SU approving K W Resort's application for increased water rates; final order requiring 4-year rate reduction and proof of adjustments of books and records; K W Resort shall submit documentation of all CIAC collected since the test year, file revised tariff sheets; approved rates shall be effective on or after the stamped approval date; K W Resort shall provide proof of the date notice was given within 10 days of the date of the notice; wastewater rates shall be reduced as shown on Schedule No. 4 effective immediately following the expiration of four-year rate case expense recovery period; within 90 days of an effective date of the Order, K W Resort shall submit a letter confirming that the adjustments to all the applicable NARUC USOA accounts have been made; if no protest, order to become final and effective upon issuance of CO; docket shall remain open pending staff's verification; once required actions are completed, docket to be closed administratively; protest due 4/13/16.

Water Industry
Order No. PSC-2016-0107-PAA-WU   ♦ Docket No:   20150230
03/15/2016   -   PAA Order PSC-16-0107-PAA-WU approving Sanlando's petition to amend Certificate No. 247-W, petition for waiver of Rule 25-30.565,F.A.C., and petition to extend water service area; granting water main extension charge in Myrtle Lake Hills; if no protest, docket to remain open for staff's verification that customer notice has been filed by utility and approved by staff; protest due 4/5/16.