MARK SCHUMANN

The Vero Beach City Council will consider a proposal this evening to cut electric rates. The proposed 4.2 percent rate cut has already be unanimously approved by the Finance and Utilities Commissions. If the move is approved, it will be the second time this year the Council has acted to lower rates. Mayor Richard Winger plans to present a separate proposal to conduct a board study to consider other opportunities to lower rates still further.

In a May 20 memo to City Council members, City Manager Jim O’Connor and Finance Director Cindy Lawson recommended reducing the City’s power charge from $75 to $69.50 effective June 1. The lower bulk power charge, O’Connor and Lawson indicated, will represent a decrease of 4.2 percent on a typical 1,000 kWh residential bill.

Earlier this month, both the Finance Commission and the Utilities Commission unanimously recommended approving this latest decrease in Vero Electric rates.  The move follows a 1.1 rate reduction on Jan. 1.

In contrast, Florida Power & Light’s rates went up nearly 5 percent in Jan.  Additionally, FPL will be phasing in incremental base rate increases through 2016.  These increases, totaling $600 million, have already been approved by the Public Service Commission.