When wishful thinking becomes pure delusion

COMMENTARY

MARK SCHUMANN

"...if a more reasoned, dispassionate discussion is what the editors of the Press Journal want, then they should consider having a Dutch uncle talk with Turner. Her attacks on utility attorney, Schef Wright, during the last City Council meeting were an embarrassment to the City of Vero Beach." — “…if a more reasoned, dispassionate discussion is what the editors of the Press Journal want, they should consider having a Dutch uncle talk with Turner. Her attacks on utility attorney, Schef Wright, during the last City Council meeting were an embarrassment to the City of Vero Beach.”

In its latest commentary on Vero Beach’s proposed power sale, the Stuart-based Scripps Press Journal editorial board again missed the point. The newspaper continues to perpetuate the delusional belief that a way can be found over, under or around Vero Beach’s contractual obligations to its fellow Florida Municipal Power Agency members and their bondholders.

Now a minority of one on the Vero Beach City Council, Pilar Turner has become the Press Journal’s lone poster child for persisting down a path that has already cost the customers of Vero Electric some $2 million in legal fees. The simple truth is the average person does not care who owns Vero Electric. What people want are lower rates. The outcome of the recent Council election is proof of that fact.

Despite heavy backing from Florida Power & Light and other outside interests, including a Stuart developer who gave $3,000, two of three pro-sale candidates were defeated. Yes, as the Press Journal is quick to remind its readers, Turner was re-elected, but with less votes than were received by Jay Kramer or Randy Old. It is worth noting that the Press Journal has yet to report on the level of support Turner received from out-of-city interests, including FPL.

Last year, when Kramer urged his fellow council members to take steps to lower rates, Turner dismissed his suggestions. Turner argued that lowering rates would merely be a distraction from the larger objective of selling the utility to Florida Power & Light. The Press Journal, who’s publisher is married to a key FPL vice president, continues to join Turner in insisting the only reasonable objective is to find a way to sell to FPL.

Though Scripps also serves the City of Fort Pierce, it spends no ink or paper calling for the sale of Fort Pierce’s electric utility to FPL. This is an interesting fact, given that Fort Pierce’s rates are higher than Vero Beach. The difference, of course, is that FPL is not currently trying to buy Fort Pierce’s electric utility. If and when FPL finally trains its sights on Fort Pierce, expect Scripps to aid the utility giant in every way it possibly can.

The Press Journal is supporting the Indian River Shores Town Council in its claim that the only reasonable rates would be ones that are “FPL-like.” There is no kind way to put it. This notion is absurd. What is reasonable is to expect Vero Beach to consistently offer rates within the statewide average. At $123.93 per 1000 kilowatt hours, Vero Beach is 2 percent below the statewide average for investor-owned utilities, and 2.6 percent above the statewide average for municipal utilities. That’s getting pretty close.

Given Vero Beach’s contractual obligations, selling the utility is proving impossible. Far more likely is the prospect of the City reducing rates still further — by renegotiating its long-term wholesale power agreement with the Orlando Utilities Commission, decommissioning the power plant and further optimizing operations.

If the Press Journal were not carrying FPL’s water, it would encourage the members of the Indian River County Commission and the Indian River Shores Town Council to support Vero Beach leaders in their efforts to reduce rates. Instead, the Press Journal tacitly endorsed the County’s and the Shores’ plans to take Vero Beach to court. The net effect of the lawsuit will be to drive up rates in the short run, as millions of dollars are wasted on litigation.

“It is time to elevate the discussion to a higher level,” the Press Journal editorial board wrote. Well, it is impossible to elevate the discussion without also elevating the level of thinking; and at least for now the Press Journal is simply repeating FPL propaganda. Further, if a more reasoned, dispassionate discussion is what the editors of the Press Journal want, they should consider having a Dutch uncle talk with Turner. Her attacks on utility attorney, Schef Wright, during the last City Council meeting were an embarrassment to the City of Vero Beach.

4 comments

But Mark, did you not read the disclaimer that because his wife worked for FP&L, he has no guidance on the editorial boards column. Yeah, we REALLY believe that. Maybe Charlie Wilson will move back to Fort Pierce and get their sale going.

There are other problems on the horizon that are not getting the attention that they deserve. The Palm Beach Post is reporting that FPL wants customers to pay to fight water rules. No electric user benefits from funds beimg spent lobbying.

The costs for electricity could be reduced with the elimination of the nuclear cost recovery fee that is paid by the rate payers. This is nothing more than a slush fund. The chances of a new nuclear plant being built in Florida are nil.

Also, the Koch Brothers through the ALEC organization are going state by state to roll back energy efficiency standards.

The costs of electricity are not being addressed at the local level. Public Service Commission. or FMPA. The problems are awaiting the folks in Tallahasee to do the right thing for consumers. It is, therefore. mandatory that we know what our elected representatives do in the Florida legislature.

Yes, John, I’ve read the disclaimer. But I know better, because I worked for a time directly for Bob Brunjes. He finally directed me to stop reporting on FPL’s effort to acquire Vero Electric. I think the last straw for Bob, or for his wife, was a story I wrote titled “The tale of two cities and one utility giant.” It was a story about how FPL was spending some $400,000 to push for an electric utility referendum in Daytona Beach while Amy Brunjes was telling people in Vero Beach the ownership of Vero Electric is not a decision to put in the hands of “Joe Six Pack.” In response to Brunjes’ directive, I resigned from Scripps. Charlie Wilson, irrelevant though he may now be, has on more than one occasion claimed I was “fired” from Scripps. They man’s words have no connection with the truth. I only doubt what he is saying when his lips are moving. You are right, John. Fort Pierce would be just the place for Wilson.

I would love to have a local newspaper that reported the news and did not pretend to be impartial on the political scene. While it is nice seeing who attended a dress-up charity ball or other function at $50 or more a ticket, I just want to know what the kids are doing in school; what public events are ahead…..and so on. Yes, and I’m looking forward to a common sense approach to city government. I think the voters have spoken, and it would do well if the one member of City Council realizes her input has thus far impeded rather than promoted a successful conclusion to the situation at hand. Plainly, the goal was NOT a lower electric rate but rather the acquisition of our municipal power system by FPL….with the aid of newspapers that benefited from advertising dollars from FPL…..and with the help of outsiders with their own agendas. Amy Brunjes’ comment about not putting the power system decision into the hands of ‘Joe Six Pack’ should have irked everyone who work hard, pay their dues, and ask little of government.