COMMENTARY

“Scripp’s new motto must be, ‘Keep people in the dark and you can lead them anywhere you want them to go.'”

MARK SCHUMANN

In a story headlined, “Vero Beach customers could feel burn in power bills if Indian River Shores withdraws from contract,” Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers, every the cheerleader for the sale of Vero Electric, today served up another one of its signature purely speculative stories.

Notice that Scripps did not bother to report on the City’s recent rate reduction, or on the numerous ways the Utilities Commission is considering further lowering rates.  Reporter Lamaur Stancil appears to have been careful not to quote Vero Beach Vice Mayor Jay Kramer, who believes handing over the Shores customers to FPL at a fair price would actually benefit the remaining customers of Vero Electric.  No, quoting Kramer would have made it impossible for Stancil to give his editors the story they surely wanted.*

As long as Scripps is going to write stories based on pure speculation, they might have offered one on how FPL’s rates could rise, if it turns out the company has serious problems with the cooling tubes at its St Lucie Nuclear Power Plant. (See: Tampa By Times report raises troubling questions about FPL’s St. Lucie Nuclear plant)

Duke Energy, the state second largest investor-owned utility, had to shut down its Crystal River nuclear plant, and in the process passed on some $2 billion in costs to its customers.  FPL is just one big mistake away from having higher rates.

Stancil’s story offered no information on the prospects for the Shores lawsuit.  If he had bothered to talk with attorneys other than the one who took the case for the Town, he might have learned that some very bright and experienced utility lawyers believe the Shores case is built on shaky grounds.

Two things are not likely to happen any time soon. The City’s Indian River Shores customers are not soon to be customers of Florida Power & Light, at least not without the City first receiving fair compensation.  Second, Scripps is not likely to become a responsible source of news.

Scripps’ new motto must be, “Keep people in the dark and you can lead them anywhere you want them to go.”

*Editor’s Note:  Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers Publisher Bob Brunjes is married to Florida Power & Light Vice President of External Affairs Amy Brunjes. Brunjes has been FPL’s point person in its effort to acquire Vero Electric.