“According to a second source, the CIty and the OUC have reached a tentative agreement on a revised contract. Agreement on a revised contract, the source said, makes it unnecessary for the City to continue to seek proposals from possible alternate wholesale power providers.“
MARK SCHUMANN
The City of Vero Beach yesterday abruptly retracted its request for bids from possible wholesale power providers, including possibly Florida Power & Light, to replace the Orlando Utilities Commission. The OUC currently supplies Vero Beach two-thirds of its wholesale power.
In a cancellation notice issued yesterday, John O’Brien, manager of purchasing and warehouse operations wrote, “The City and its advisors have recently reassessed the City’s initial procurement strategy to replace the City’s current bulk power supply contracts. As a result of this development, the City has decided to withdraw and cancel this Request for Proposals effective immediately.”
Since issuing a request for proposals last month, Vero Beach received from the OUC a sharp and threatening letter accusing the City of intent to breach its contract. In response, Vero Beach’s special counsel, Schef Wright, wrote a letter accusing the OUC of interfering in the City’s right to explore alternatives to remaining in a 20-year agreement with the OUC.
According to one City Hall source speaking off the record, the City withdrew and cancelled its request for bids in exchange for the OUC’s pledge to make a proposal better than its last offer made in November. According to a second source, the CIty and the OUC have reached a tentative agreement on a revised contract. Agreement on a revised contract, the source said, makes it unnecessary for the City to continue to seek proposals from possible alternate wholesale power providers.
The alternative appeared to be lengthily and costly arbitration and possible litigation.
Vero Beach and the OUC have been negotiating changes to a 2008 deal that has been a windfall to the OUC, but has left customers of Vero Electric bearing the burden of wholesale power costs well above prevailing market rates.
Indian River Guardian 
“Vero Electric bearing the burden of wholesale power costs well above prevailing market rates”. Finally the truth has squeezed through and now after years of overpayments and losses of energy saving specials that FP&L has given to its customers, it emerges that we have all been “SCREWED”! Hopefully the township of Indian River Shores will continue to pursue it lawsuit and stop this theft once and for all.
FPL is NOT the lowest electric provider in the state , so why that company
Could campaign cash play a part in why FPL is the choice of so many politicians
The city is correct in getting a fair return on its investments, it’s called capitalism
The power plant is on city property which could have been a source of tax dollars for the city
The Indian River Shores lawsuit will not succeed
Market rates fluctuate, and what was a good deal yesterday may not be a good deal today
Honorable people honor contracts
All should enjoy life and this wonderful part of this great country
How about in the OUC deal, insisting on their allowing solar buy back at wholesale cost, and other solar, thermal,water, wind sources of power, enabling subsidizing solar panels, thus becoming sustainable in Indian River County, allowing anyone in the county to connect and eventually reducing everyone’s costs.