After thirteen days, still no reporting from Treasure Coast Newspapers on FPL’s proposed $1.325 billion rate increase

COMMENTARY

MARK SCHUMANN

Ever the dutiful and compliant publicists for Florida Power & Light, Treasure Coast Newspaper took all of one day last fall to repot the company’s claims that lower rates are just around the corner. On Thursday, Sep. 3, just one day after the release of an FPL announcement, TCPalm.com posted a story headlined, “Florida Power & Light Co. says lower electric rates coming in 2016.”

Curiously, it has now been thirteen days since Florida Power & Light President and CEO Eric Silagy wrote the Florida Public Service Commission announcing his company’s plans to seek $1.35 billion in base rate increases over the next three years. TCPalm.com and the Press Journal have yet to report this story. See related story.

Meanwhile, Treasure Coast Newspapers, the Press Journal’s parent company, continues to run advertising promoting FPL’s low rates. (Treasure Coast Newspaper Publisher Bob Brunjes is married to FPL’s vice president of external affairs.)

See also: FPL’s proposed rate hike reported statewide – but not on the Treasure Coast