COMMENTARY

“At this point, pro-sale activists are being about as realistic as opponents of gravity.”

Editor’s note: In its editorial critical of electioneering communications organizations, the Stuart-based, pro-sale Press Journal made no mention of the Alliance for Better Florida Community’s misleading political mailers. Press Journal Publisher Bob Brunjes is married to a key FPL executives involved in the utility giant’s effort to acquire Vero Electric.

MARK SCHUMANN

Given that we all tend to believe what we want to believe, it might seem futile to point out the exaggerated, almost fraudulent claims being made by at least one electioneering communications organization supporting Harry Howle, III, Pilar Turner and Charlie Wilson. Still, voters have a right to know truth, even if some ultimately choose to embrace fantasy.

The Alliance for Better Florida Communities, and ECO funded by the George E. Warren Corporation, The Hill Group, Florida Power & Light and half a dozen companies in the citrus industry, has spent nearly $18,000 trying to convince Vero Beach voters they will save 30 percent on their electric bills, if Howle, Turner and Wilson are elected.

For starters, the Alliance offers voters the unqualified assurance Howle, Turner and Wilson will find a way out of contracts already validated by the Florida Supreme Court. Sure, FPL may have a secret plan shared only with Howle, Turner and Wilson, but in advance of election day no one is talking — probably because FPL’s plan involves significant additional costs to the residents and taxpayer of Vero Beach.

Like the company’s previous efforts, any new FPL scheme is likely doomed to fail, for the proposed sale has run up against the rule of law, specifically contract law. Attorney’s hand-picked by Tracy Carroll, Pilar Turner and Craig Fletcher, after billing some $2 million, have yet to find a way out of the City’s contractual obligations to its fellow Florida Municipal Power Agency members and their bond holders. At this point, pro-sale activists are being about as realistic as opponents of gravity.

What the Alliance fails to mention in its misleading political mailers is that the current rate differential between Vero Electric and FPL is 20 percent, not 30 percent. More importantly, the Alliance also fails to account for the 6 percent franchise fee to be added to FPL bills for city customers. The true savings, then, will be 15 percent, not 30 percent as the Alliance claims.

Here are some facts not mentioned by the Alliance for Better Florida Communities.

Vero Electric’s rate for 1000 kilowatt hours is $123.93

1. FPL’s rate for 1000 kilowatt hours is $98.97 ($104.91 with a 6% franchise fee)

2. A City customer using 1000 kilowatt hours a month will save $19.02 a month on their electric bill.

3. 69 percent of the City’s electric customers use less than 1000 kilowatt hours a month. Thus, only 3 out of 10 customers within the city would save more than $19.02 a month on their electric bill. Seven out of 10 will save $19.02 or less a month. (In order to achieve this savings, Howle, Turner and Wilson seem prepared to drive the City of Vero Beach into disincorporation.)

4. 36 percent of Vero Electric residential customers use less than 500 kilowatt hours per month.

5. 35 percent use between 500 and 1000 kilowatt hours per month.

6. 29 percent use more than 1000 kilowatt hours per month.

Below is the latest mailer paid for by the Alliance for Better Florida Communities.