MARK SCHUMANN
The Vero Beach City Council today voted 4-1 to approves revisions to the City’s wholesale power purchase agreement with the Orlando Utilities Commission. The agreement shortens by six years the City’s commitment to the OUC, and is estimated to save ratepayers approximately $171 million between now and 2029.
Vero Beach buys two-thirds of its power from the OUC, with the remainder coming from three Florida Municipal Power Agency projects.
In 2008, City leaders signed a 20-year agreement with the OUC. Because of changes in the economy and in fuel markets, the original agreement turned out to be an unfavorable deal for Vero Beach and its electric customers. Unless othwrsied amended, that agreement would remain in force through 2029.
After the proposed sale of Vero Electric to FPL unraveled, OUC officials agreed to revise the original 2008 agreement with terms more favorable to Vero Beach. Negotiations began last August.
In opposing the contract revisions, Councilwoman Pilar Turner went against the advice of her two appointees to the Finance and Utilities Commissions, Glenn Brovont and Scott Stradley.
In lengthy joint sessions of the two Commissions held last week, utility counsel Scheff Wright detailed the revised provisions. In the end, with Brovont’s and Stradley’s support, the Commissions voted 9-2 to recommend approval. The two dissenting votes were city council candidate Laura Moss and Robert Auwaerter, Indian River Shores’ representative on the Utilities Commission.
In other business, the Council voted to 4-1, again with Turner dissenting, to direct City Manager Jim O’Connor to begin planning to decommission the power plant.
Below is a table detailing the savings Vero Electric customers are to receive as a result the contract changes.
Indian River Guardian 
You have to hand it to Turner….She has stayed true to FPL thru thick and thin. Too bad she has not got that kind of allegiance to the City of Vero Beach as one of their elected officials. I always wonder what’s in it for her. Just wondering.
Pilar Turner had a chance to lower electric costs for both city and county ratepayers and failed . She can no longer claim to be in favor of reducing spending after her latest “no” vote. She once said board members are put on these boards to carry out the wishes of the council. Fortunately her two appointees to city Boards were wiser than her. The real Pilar Turner has just arrived for all to see.
Board members are not put on the Boards to carry out the wishes of the Council. They are put their to advise Council regarding issues that the Council brings to the Board. Advising is different than rubber stamping the Council wishes.
In defense of Pilar Turner she is not blinded by the pennies that all are are saving with this new “frying pan into the fire” contract. The issue remains that OUC is 30% higher than FP&L. All of you are either “Lobbyists” or foolish to let this continue! Wake up, we are all in the same boat, Pilar, Heady, Howle and Moss are all correct and will collectively will save everyone a lot of money!
Dear Larry ,You are a great at making excuses for Pilar Turner. You fail to mention in your apologia that she and her group raised rates almost every year she and her group were running the city. You you are critical of a council that has lowered rates several times. Your 30% higher is false and misleading number bandied about by pro sale activist. You may not be aware of it coming from the wealthy community of Indian River Shores ,but there are many families who appreciate and need lower electric costs here in Vero. .
Between now and the end of 2023, the revised OUC contract will save the customers of Vero Electric and estimated $171 million. Additional savings will come from decommissioning the power plant. $171 million may be pennies to some, but for others it is significant.
Larry, how is it you determined the OUC’s wholesale power rates are 30 percent higher than those charged by FPL? Or, what rate comparison are you making?
How will Turner, Heady, Howle and Moss save anyone any money? Do you believe their claims that they will be able to conclude the power sale? And, how do you think they will accomplish that?
Dear John, just to set the record straight: I never before said anything about Pilar Turner, I do not even know the woman. I do respect the fact that she stood up for both her beliefs and mine. Actually the figure comes out to much more than 30% savings as I could have received over $3000.00 in rebates from FP&L for the air conditions I just replaced: I am not including the dish washer , washing machine or dryer replaced last year. Vero gives nothing! As I am not a resident of the City, I have not followed your tax increases, I do know that your Police Dept. is one of the best in the State of Florida. The other services are also excellent and run properly. There is a fuel adjustment added to my electric bill every month at over $200.00. It is a known fact that Indian River Shores is paying a large amount of $’s that goes into your general fund. What Turner, Heady, Moss and Howle represent to me is a change in direction for the electric business with their promises to sell to FP&L. I do wish all of you City residents the best outcome what ever it may be, at this point only the MAN upstairs can predict that! So John don’t be upset with an other opinion, we served our country to be able to do that!