• In January the PSC approved the need for Florida Power & Light Company’s (FPL) proposed Okeechobee Clean Energy Center Unit 1, a natural gas, combined cycle power plant in Okeechobee County, in order to meet the growing energy needs of Floridians. The new plant will ensure continued efficient and reliable energy generation and save FPL’s customers millions of dollars.
  
  
• In February, we approved FPL’s need for its proposed Duval-Raven 230 kV transmission line, running through Baker, Columbia, Duval, and Nassau counties. Extending from FPL’s existing Duval Substation to its planned Raven Substation in Columbia County, this project will enhance electric system reliability and integrity, consistent with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s standards.
  
  
• We joined America’s Second Harvest of the Big Bend in March for a kick-off to help consumers get a lifeline to food and phone service during National Consumer Protection Week, March 6-12. Joining us were some local Tallahassee public officials who shared information on the need for low-income residents to have food to keep families healthy and phone service to access job opportunities, emergency services, and family and friends.
  
  
• In April, CEOs from Florida’s investor-owned electric utilities appeared before us, sharing their plans to strengthen and improve electric grid safety and reliability during hurricanes and other storm events. Customer communications and social media integrations during major weather events were also discussed.
  
  
• We approved a $3 million settlement agreement in May between our staff, the Office of Public Counsel, and Peoples Gas System (PGS) to resolve violations of various natural gas safety rules and regulations. Compliance with gas safety rules and regulations is of paramount importance to us, and it is imperative that PGS complies with all regulations affecting the safety of customers, employees, and the general public.
  
  
• In June, we authorized the issuance of $1.294 billion in nuclear asset-recovery bonds to cover the retirement costs of Duke Energy Florida, LLC’s (DEF) Crystal River III nuclear power plant. The bonds are expected to save DEF customers $684 million.
  
  
• The Commission in July reduced the Florida Relay System (FRS) monthly surcharge-- from 12 to 11 cents--for Florida telephone customers. FRS provides basic telecommunications service access for more than 2.5 million Florida citizens who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf/blind, or speech-impaired. The reduction was due to projected lower costs by FRS provider, Sprint Communications Company, L.P.
  
  
• In August, we conducted a hearing on FPL’s request for a rate increase. The hearing allowed FPL and intervenors in the case to present sworn testimony and exhibits in support of their positions. FPL filed its petition for a base rate increase with the PSC on March 15, 2016. In June, the Commission held nine customer service hearings in FPL’s service area.
  
  
• The PSC held its annual workshop in September to discuss Florida’s electric utilities’ 10-year site plans, which identifies system upgrades and modifications needed to maintain adequate reliability over the next 10 years.
  
  
• In October, we approved cost recovery for Gulf Power Company’s 20-year energy purchase agreement with Morgan Stanley Capital Group, Inc., which will encourage wind generation development and save customers $21 million.
  
  
• In November, we approved a settlement agreement that reduced FPL’s rate request by more than a third, approving an $811 million settlement agreement offered by FPL, Florida’s Office of Public Counsel--representing FPL customers--South Florida Hospital and Healthcare Association, and the Florida Retail Federation.

Julie I. Brown, FPSC Chairman      

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Commission Calendar

December News Releases

Florida PSC Commission Conference on Tuesday

El Beth-El Development Center Named PSC Helping Hand

Florida PSC Announces Modernized FCC Lifeline Assistance Rules

PSC Approves Electric Utility Storm Hardening Plans

PSC Approves Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program Surcharge

Bible Baptist Church in Suwannee County Receives PSC’s Triple E Award

Bayshore Senior Nutrition Center Named a PSC Helping Hand

Epicurean Hotel in Tampa Receives PSC’s Triple E Award

November / December Notable FPSC Dockets

Electric Industry
Docket No. 20160242
12/07/2016   -   Joint petition for approval of territorial agreement in Alachua County by Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc. and the City of Newberry.

Telecommunications Industry
Docket No. 20160236
11/14/2016   -   Request for approval of amendment to interconnection, unbundling, resale, and collocation agreement between BellSouth Telecommunications, LLC d/b/a AT&T Florida d/b/a AT&T Southeast and New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC.

Water and Wastewater Industry
Docket No. 20160239
11/28/2016   -   Proposed amendment of Rule 25-30.445, F.A.C., General Information and Instructions Required of Water and Wastewater Utilities in an Application for a Limited Proceeding.

November / December Notable FPSC Orders

Electric Industry
Order No. PSC-2016-0516-PAA-EU   ♦ Docket No:   20160194
11/21/2016   -   PAA Order PSC-16-0516-PAA-EU approving amendment to existing territorial agreement in Alachua County between Duke Energy and City of Alachua; order to become final and effective upon issuance of CO; if no timely protest, docket shall be closed; protest due 12/12/16.

Order No. PSC-2016-0531-PAA-EQ   ♦ Docket No:   20160074
11/22/2016   -   PAA Order PSC-16-0531-PAA-EQ approving FPUC's petition for standard offer rate schedule and standard offer contract; order to become final and effective on issuance of CO; if no timely protest, FPUC's standard offer contract may subsequently be revised; protest due 12/13/16.

Order No. PSC-2016-0544-CO-EI   ♦ Docket No:   20160158
11/29/2016   -   Consummating Order PSC-16-0544-CO-EI makes Order PSC-16-0507-PAA-EI effective and final; docket shall be closed.

Telecommunications Industry
Order No. PSC-2016-0527-PAA-TX   ♦ Docket No:   20160212
11/22/2016   -   PAA Order PSC-16-0527-PAA-TX granting TNE's application for Certificate of Authority No. 8902; order shall serve as TNE's certificate and should be retained by TNE as proof of certification; if no protest, order to become final and effective on issuance of CO; docket to be closed if order becomes final; protest due 12/13/16.

Order No. PSC-2016-0528-PAA-TX   ♦ Docket No:   20160205
11/22/2016   -   PAA Order PSC-16-0528-PAA-TX granting Synergem's application for Certificate of Authority No. 8901; order shall serve as Synergem's certificate and should be retained by Synergem as proof of certification; if no protest, order to become final and effective on issuance of CO; docket to be closed if order becomes final; protest due 12/13/16.

Water and Wastewater Industry
Order No. PSC-2016-0526-PCO-WS   ♦ Docket No:   20160101
11/22/2016   -   Order PSC-16-0526-PCO-WS approving interim revenue requirement and rate increase and suspending final rates proposed by Utilities, Inc.; docket to remain open pending Commission's final action on Utilities, Inc.'s requested final rates.

Order No. PSC-2016-0539-CO-WS   ♦ Docket No:   20150269
11/28/2016   -   Consummating Order PSC-16-0539-CO-WS makes Order PSC-16-0505-PAA-WS effective and final; docket to remain open.

Water Industry
Order No. PSC-2016-0537-PAA-WU   ♦ Docket No:   20150181
11/23/2016   -   PAA Order PSC-16-0537-PAA-WU approving Neighborhood's application for increase in rates and charges; and final order on recovery of rate case expenses, temporary rates and accounting adjustments; if no protest to PAA within 21 days of issuance of order, a CO to be issues; docket to be closed administratively once staff has verified that tariff Neighborhood has completed [required] actions; protest due 12/14/16.