W A T E R:
A Timeless Vital Resource is Coming of Age

For more than 35 years, the American Water Works Association and its members have celebrated National Drinking Water Week - an opportunity for both water professionals and the communities they serve to recognize the vital role water plays in our daily lives. Held the first week of May, this year's National Drinking Water Week's theme is, "Your Water, To Know It Is To Love It." As the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) observes this important week, we remind you to appreciate the value of tap water service and the continuing need for infrastructure reinvestment to keep our water flowing

Consider your next sip of water. How much do you think you should pay to receive good, quality drinking water? We frequently hear this question from consumers calling the PSC about their water bills. "While most Americans worry about electric and gas bills, water rates have increased in the past dozen years," according to a USA TODAY (September 29, 2012) study of 100 municipalities. The report indicated, "prices at least doubled in more than a quarter of the locations and even tripled in a few." Naturally, consumers question, "Why do we have to pay so much for our water?"

One reason water and wastewater utilities request increased rates is their need to replace aging infrastructure, a serious and costly problem.

Many of the nation's drinking water systems were built at the turn of the century and need to be replaced or improved by cleaning and relining. Although many of Florida's systems are only 20 or 30 years old, they face similar problems with deteriorating infrastructures. Aged and deteriorated water mains can result in poor service for customers due to increased main breaks, frequent service interruptions, low pressure, discolored water, threatened water quality, inadequate fire protection, and greater unaccounted for water.

The cost of infrastructure replacement has increased significantly over the years. For example, in 1900 the cost to install one foot of main was $1. The cost to replace one foot of main today is about $100. The cost to clean and reline one foot of main is about $61. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that Florida will need $16.5 billion in funding over the next 20 years just to maintain its existing drinking water infrastructure.

Determining the cost of water for regulated utilities is the job of the PSC, including how Florida's water utilities can improve water delivery to its customers. The PSC is researching innovative regulatory strategies, including demand management and conservation policies that will strengthen Florida's water industry. The PSC continues to encourage facilities replacement, rate shock mitigation, and reduced regulatory expenses and welcomes regulatory policies that further the PSC's mission of ensuring safe, reliable delivery of essential services at a reasonable cost. The PSC follows strategies to help investor-owned water and wastewater facilities improve their infrastructure and move toward rate structures that reflect the full cost of water service, while avoiding excessive customer impacts.

Consumers benefit daily from this network of treatment plants, pump stations and pipes. Considering the public demand being met by our nation's water service, tap water will always be a tremendous value because water is life. Some say it's priceless. That's one reason there are challenges with putting a price on a service that affects public health, fire protection, economic development, and quality of life. It is the PSC's job to find the balance in keeping water service safe and keeping the price reasonable.

So in celebration of 2016 National Drinking Water Week, please join me in pouring yourself a glass of tap water to toast the vital role water plays in our daily lives!

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

May News Releases

Florida PSC Commission Conference on Thursday

PSC Commissioner Lisa Edgar Grateful for Career in Public Service

PSC Approves TECO’s Economic Development Rider

PSC Approves $3 Million Peoples Gas System Settlement

PSC Assists Broward County Seniors During Older Americans Month

PSC Customer Meeting for Lake Idlewild Utility Company

PSC Celebrates Seniors During Older Americans Month

PSC Customer Meeting for Neighborhood Utilities, Inc.

PSC Assists Hillsborough County Seniors During Older Americans Month

Special PSC Commission Conference on Monday

PSC Assists Duval County Seniors During Older Americans Month

PSC Assists Bay County Seniors During Older Americans Month

Billy Bones of Panama City Beach Receives PSC’s Triple E Award

United Way’s RealSense Prosperity Place Named PSC Helping Hand

PSC Service Hearing in Fort Myers for FPL’s Proposed Rate Increase

PSC to Hold Service Hearing in Sarasota for FPL’s Proposed Rate Increase

April / May 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. 20150252
11/24/2015   -   Joint petition for approval of territorial agreement in Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Levy and Volusia Counties by Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Duke Energy Florida, LLC.

Docket No. 20160049
03/04/2016   -   Petition for modification of territorial order based on changed legal circumstances emanating from Article VIII, Section 2(c) of the Florida Constitution, by the Town of Indian River Shores.

Gas Industry
Docket No. 20160029
02/04/2016   -   Petition by Peoples Gas System for approval of special contract with United Parcel Service, Inc.

Telecommunications Industry
Docket No. 20150244
11/12/2015   -   Application for certificate to provide local telecommunications service by Pure Telephone Corp.

Docket No. 20160026
01/26/2016   -   Application for certificate to provide local telecommunications service by Sonic Systems, Inc. d/b/a Sonic Systems, Inc. of Maryland.

Wastewater Industry
Docket No. 20150102
04/01/2015   -   Application for increase in wastewater rates in Charlotte County by Utilities, Inc. of Sandalhaven.

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.

April / May Notable FPSC Orders

Electric Industry
Order No. PSC-2016-0145-CO-EU   ♦ Docket No:   20150252
04/12/2016   -   Consummating Order PSC-16-0145-CO-EU makes Order PSC-16-0113-PAA-EU effective and final; docket shall be closed.

Order No. PSC-2016-0150-CO-EG   ♦ Docket No:   20150248
04/15/2016   -   Consummating Order PSC-16-0150-CO-EG makes Order PSC-16-0111-TRF-EG effective and final; docket shall be closed.

Gas Industry
Order No. PSC-2016-0159-PAA-GU   ♦ Docket No:   20160029
04/22/2016   -   PAA Order PSC-16-0159-PAA-GU approving PGS's special contract with United Parcel Service, Inc.; if no protest, order to become final and effective upon issuance of CO, docket shall be closed; protest due 5/13/16.

Telecommunications Industry
Order No. PSC-2016-0144-PAA-TX   ♦ Docket No:   20160026
04/12/2016   -   PAA Order PSC-16-0144-PAA-TX granting Sonic's application for Certificate of Authority No. 8886; order to become final and effective upon issuance of CO; if no timely protest, docket to be closed; protest due 5/3/16.

Order No. PSC-2016-0149-CO-TX   ♦ Docket No:   20150244
04/15/2016   -   Consummating Order PSC-16-0149-CO-TX makes Order PSC-16-0121-PAA-TX effective and final; docket shall be closed.

Wastewater Industry
Order No. PSC-2016-0151-FOF-SU   ♦ Docket No:   20150102
04/18/2016   -   Final Order PSC-16-0151-FOF-SU granting motion requesting approval of the stipulation and settlement agreement; upon issuance of order interim rates and the implementation of PAA rates shall be released; utility shall provide proof notice was given to the customers within 10 days of the date of the notice; docket shall be closed.

Water Industry
Order No. PSC-2016-0142-CO-WU   ♦ Docket No:   20150230
04/11/2016   -   Consummating Order PSC-16-0142-CO-WU makes Order PSC-16-0107-PAA-WU effective and final; docket to remain open.