Who will pay less on their September electricity bills
Florida Power & Light customers will receive an automatic discount on their September electric bill after a rebate approved by state regulators
High temperatures have caused governments to seek to alleviate the financial burden on their residents' energy bills. Recently, we announced that a state-owned company contemplates refunds of up to $2,750. On this occasion, local authorities determined that they paid more than necessary to cover the costs of restoring service after the 2024 hurricane season, so the company in charge of the supply will offer a refund that would be applied as a reduction in the electricity bills of these consumers in September.
Customers will not receive a check or direct deposit; instead, the refund will appear as a reduction in the base rate of the electric bill.
Although the discount will not be high, it represents a relief for millions of users who for months paid an additional charge related to the recovery of the electrical system after the passage of hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton.
That plan added a temporary surcharge that increased customers' monthly bills by $12 on average through 2025. Once the repairs were completed, regulators reviewed actual expenses and found that the company had spent less money than it had originally estimated to restore electric service.
“Maintaining a reliable and resilient electric grid requires continued investment, and the commission's review helps ensure that customers pay only the reasonable and necessary costs to restore service, while supporting a reliable electric system for all Floridians,” said PSC Chair Gabriella Passidomo Smith.
Duke Energy Florida also returned money to its customers
During the spring, the Florida Public Utilities Commission approved a similar deal for Duke Energy Florida after determining that the company had also charged more than necessary to cover costs stemming from the 2024 hurricane season.
According to the state agency, Duke Energy collected more than $1 billion, but the actual cost of repairs was $915.3 million. As a result, the company began repaying the money through credits applied to bills starting in the June cycle, with a refund of approximately 56 cents per 1,000 kilowatt hours of consumption.