MARK SCHUMANN
Two utility bills filed by State Re. Debbie Mayfield, one addressing service territories between cities and counties, and a second intended to place municipal utilities buying power from the Florida Municipal Power Agency under Florida Public Service Commission regulation, stalled in the House Energy and Utilities Subcommittee today. The subcommittee’s failure to act on Mayfield’s proposed utility legislation means neither bill will be considered by the full House this legislative session.
House Bill 813 would have aided the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners in their effort to take over water and sewer service in unincorporated areas of the county currently serviced by Vero Beach, including the south barrier island. HB 813 was voted down by the committee last week. A motion to reconsider the bill today was followed by the Chairman’s directive to postpone a second vote. With today’s meeting being the last for the Energy and Utilities Subcommittee in the 2014 legislative session, HB 813 will not be heard this year.
Mayfield’s HB 861 was seen by many municipal utility advocates as an all-out assault on the FMPA. The bill would have brought under PSC regulation any municipal utility receiving power from the FMPA. It was supported by utility activist Glenn Heran, who has worked closely with FPL through two recent elections, and has also been assisting a lobbyist hired by the County to help push through Mayfield’s bills.
Mayfield proposed two other utility-related bills, both which would only apply locally. Mayfield’s local bills are opposed by the Vero Beach City Council. One would give customers the right, through a formal service and majority vote, to choose their utility provider. The second would subject Vero Electric to regulatory oversight by the PSC. Those bills have yet to be reported out of committee.
Indian River Guardian 
This is not a surprise. Unfortunately for the people of this community, Representative Mayfield has never had a bill that she iniitiated become law. The only exception was the renaming of the 17th Street bridge to the Alma Lee Loy bridge.
I would love to have been able to choose some other company then fpl.
Even in the state legislature dumb bills get shot down. There goes another $100,000 down the toilet. Thank you Solari. Maybe you will get another chance in the future to bankrupt the city.
With half the legislative session over Representative Mayfield is already talking about next year. Her problem is not that she failed to identify a problem; it’s that she appears uncompromising and tone deaf to a dialogue with those who harbor concerns; for example, considerations for a COVB/IRC Utility Authority. Although her efforts have been focused locally, there has been determined opposition from the Florida League of Cities, and myriad municipalities; particularly those with electrical entities.
Further, for the PSC to regulate public utilities an entire new paradigm will be required with extensive statute revisions, unique accounting standards, extensive procedures, and additional support staff.
If she strives to be an effective legislator, she needs to collegiately bring people together, not engage in adversarial relationships.