Supreme Court weighs role of public advocate in rate cases

MARY ELLEN KLAS – Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau

Floridas Supreme Court justices heard arguments Thursday in a case that could set the precedent for how much influence the states consumer advocate will have in future cases before the utility board.

At issue is the $350 million rate increase approved in 2012 by the Public Service Commission for Florida Power & Light.

The Public Service Commission circumvented a full rate hearing last year when it approved a settlement between FPL and the companys largest industrial users that allowed the company to charge customers higher rates in 2013 and automatically increase rates again in 2014 and 2016 when new power plants come online.