Planning For Your Future Energy Needs
Do you ever consider the planning required so you can turn on your lights? The electricity
you and your 19.3 million fellow Floridians enjoy today is the result of strategic
planning by Florida's utilities and review by the Florida Public Service Commission
(PSC).
In 2022, the estimated 21 million-plus Floridians will turn on their lights because
of planning occurring today.
Florida Statutes require all major generating electric utilities to annually submit
a Ten-Year Site Plan (TYSP) to the PSC for review. TYSPs contain each utility’s
projections for electric power needs, fuel requirements, and planned additional
generating units (size, general location, etc.), as well as major changes or additions
to transmission facilities. Any generating utility in Florida planning to build
a new unit larger than 75 megawatts (MW) within the ten-year planning horizon is
required to file a TYSP. Otherwise, utilities with existing generating capacities
below 250 MW are exempt from this statutory requirement.
Following an annual public workshop, this year on August 13, where utilities present
their plans to Commissioners, the PSC studies each utility’s TYSP to determine whether
it is suitable or unsuitable. Results are included in an annual report, Review of
the Ten-Year Site Plans for Florida’s Electric Utilities. The Commission forwards
this report to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for use in power
plant siting proceedings and to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services (DACS) for use in preparing long-range energy supply and demand forecasts.
In the PSC's 2012 report, the utilities' TYSPs identified a generating capacity
increase of approximately 6,000 MW over the planning horizon, about a 3,000 MW decrease
from the 2011 TYSPs. The 2012 Plans reflect recent construction, existing unit retirements
and uprates, and new generating units—all natural gas—to be added during the ten-year
horizon. As in previous planning cycles, the addition of these gas units increase
the percentage of natural gas used in Florida to generate electricity.
During the 2012 Legislative Session, HB 7117—passed by the Legislature—now requires
electric utilities to include information in their TYSPs on renewable energy produced
or purchased and future plans for adding renewable energy resources. The new energy
bill is the result of recommendations made by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture
and Consumer Services Adam Putnam for increasing diversity in Florida’s energy portfolio,
expanding production of alternative energy, and expediting permitting for growing
of biofuel feedstocks.
HB 7117 also requires the PSC, in consultation with DACS, to contract for an independent
evaluation of the Florida Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (FEECA) to determine
if the Act remains in the public interest. The University of Florida/National Regulatory
Research Institute team will conduct the evaluation for submittal to the Legislature
and to the Governor by January 31, 2013. Established in 1980, FEECA was amended
by the 2008 Legislature to emphasize the pursuit, through utility sponsored incentives,
of all cost-effective customer conservation and energy efficiency measures, including
demand-side renewable energy systems.
FEECA requires the PSC to establish goals, at least every five years, and approve
cost-effective utility programs designed to meet numeric conservation goals. Some
utility programs available to customers include: 1) free energy audits, 2) rebates
for energy efficiency improvements such as insulation and windows, and 3) rebates
for heat pumps, air conditioners, and lighting. FEECA goals were set by the PSC
in 2004 and were reset in 2009 to reflect the revised statutes.
As Florida’s energy needs continue to grow, planning will become even more important.
Fuel diversity continues to be a critical planning issue for the PSC as it monitors
potential climate change legislation, fuel price variability, the changing capital
cost of generating units, and the expansion and integration of renewable energy
sources. Florida’s energy policy includes fuel diversity as a criterion to be evaluated
in decision making on the planning and maintenance of the grid, utility TYSPs, and
power plant additions. Good energy policy guidance and continually evaluating and
improving that state’s energy planning tools—like TYSPs and FEECA—will ensure that
future plans meet future demand.
There are five
ways to contact us:
Complete an online complaint form at www.floridapsc.com
E-mail contact@psc.state.fl.us
Call our toll-free number, 800-342-3552
Fax information to us toll-free, 800-511-0809
Send a letter to: The Florida Public Service Commission
2540 Shumard Oak Blvd., Tallahassee,
Florida 32399-0850
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In September,
PSC staff will hold an Electric Vehicle Charging Station workshop on September 6
♦ Commissioner Julie Brown will chair meetings for the Study Committee on
Investor-Owned Water & Wastewater Utilities on September 6 and September 25 ♦
Chairman Brisé will host a PSC Lifeline Awareness Week Workshop on September 7 ♦
Nuclear Cost Recovery Clause hearings are on September 10-13 ♦ A Commission
Conference is on September 18 ♦ PSC staff will hold a Smart Meter Workshop
on September 20 ♦ Commissioners will participate in an Alternative Fuel Vehicle
Roadshow on September 20 in Tallahassee and September 21 in Jacksonville.
August Press Releases
PSC Commissioner Julie Brown Shares Civic Experience with Washington Center Interns
8/17/2012
Hearings for FPL Rate Request
begin Monday 8/16/2012
PSC Approves Pipeline Improvement
Rider 8/14/2012
PSC to Review Status of
Crystal River Nuclear Plant 8/9/2012
Duke CEO Rogers to Appear
before Florida Public Service Commission Monday 8/9/2012
10-Year Site Plan Workshop
Set for Monday 8/9/2012
PSC Recognizes 811 Day to
Encourage Safe Digging 8/9/2012
PSC Reports Telecommunications
Competition Good for Florida Residents 8/1/2012
Notable FPSC Orders
Filed From August 1 - 31, 2012
Water Management Services, Inc.
Docket No. 110200
Order No. PSC-12-0435-PAA-WU
Granting in part WMSI's requested rate increase; requiring escrowing of a portion
of all revenues; Commissioners Graham and Balbis dissented; protest due 9/12/12.
♦ ♦ ♦
Progress Energy Florida
Docket No. 120103
Order No. PSC-12-0432-PAA-EI
Approving PEF's petition to recover costs through Environmental Cost Recovery Clause
for converting Anclote units to burn 100 percent natural gas; protest due 9/10/12.
♦ ♦ ♦
Gulf Power Company
Docket No. 110138
Order No. PSC-12-0400-FOF-EI
Denying GPC's motion for reconsideration to include the acquisition and evaluation
costs for its North Escambia County Site in base rate charges.
♦ ♦ ♦
High Cost Universal Service Fund
Docket No. 120150
Order No. PSC-0405-FOF-TL
Granting annual certification to affirm that the federal high-cost funds flowing
to rural carriers in the state, or to any competitive eligible telecommunications
carriers seeking support for serving customers within a rural carrier's service
area, will be used in a manner that comports with the Telecommunications Act.
♦ ♦ ♦
Florida Public Utilities Company
Docket No. 120058
Order No. PSC-12-0427-CO-EQ
Consummates Order PSC-12-0380-PAAEQ approving a negotiated renewable energy power
purchase contract for power purchased with Rayonier Performance Fibers, LLC, by
FPUC effective and final; closes docket.
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