In a letter calling upon the membership of the Florida Municipal Power Agency to oppose a bill filed State Rep. Debbie Mayfield, FMPA General Manager and CEO, Nick Guarriello, wrote, “HB 861 is an attack on the very cities from which Vero Beach needs cooperation to conclude the sale (of Vero Electric to Florida Power & Light).”

Guarriello questioned the motivation behind Mayfield’s bill, which would place municipal utilities that purchase any or all of their power from the FMPA under regulation by the Florida Public Service Commission.

Guarriello wrote, “In truth, it (HB861) is an attempt to exert leverage over FMPA’s member systems in the ongoing discussions about the waivers Vero Beach must receive from FMPA’s power supply project contracts.”

“This bill is not helpful to those discussion,” Guarriello added.

Saying that Mayfield’s bill “has no defensible public policy purpose,” FMPA’s CEO asserted that it would lead to rate increases and a loss of local control that is “the foundation of a locally owned electric utility.”

Mayfield’s HB 861, along with several other bills she has filed are also being scrutinized by the Florida League of Cities, and will be a subject of discussion at next Tuesday’s City Council meeting.  In backup material for an agenda item on the subject, Mayor Richard Winger he will seek Council action to protect the interest of the people of Vero Beach, which he says are “threatened” by Mayfield’s proposed legislation.

Across town, the Indian River County Commission continues to make payments to a lobbying firm hired to help push Mayfield’s bills through the Legislature.  In total, the Commission plans to spend $75,000 with the firm, which is also being assisted by utility activist, Glenn Heran’s.  Whatever expenses Heran incurs in lobbying on behalf of Mayfield’s bills are to be reimbursed by the County.