JIM TAYLOR/SUN SENTINEL

Florida utility regulators gave approval Thursday for the state’s largest power company to further invest ratepayer money in natural-gas production.

And unlike a decision late last year to approve Florida Power & Light’s investment in a controversial Oklahoma fracking operation, future exploratory ventures for natural gas won’t have to earn regulatory approval on a case-by-case basis to determine if the spending is prudent. Continue reading…

Related Story:

FPL Gets approval to charge customers $500 million annually to pay for natural gas

TALLAHASSEE, Florida — State regulators have given Florida Power & Light permission to invest up to $500 million a year in natural gas drilling projects and to pass those costs onto customers.

The Florida Public Service Commission unanimously approved guidelines Thursday to allow FPL to invest further in natural gas drilling projects. This allows the company to charge its more than 4.7 million customers for the investment over a 30-year period. Continue reading…