Sen. Latvala says bill may put PSC over local utilities

Editor’s note: Vero Beach leaders have offered to submit the City’s electric rates to review by the Florida Public Service Commission. Despite the fact that Vero Electric’s rates are well below rates already approved by the PSC for three of the state’s investor owned utilities, Indian River Shores leaders and their allies at the County insist the City’s rates are “unreasonable.”

JIM ROSICA/SAINTPETERSBLOG.COM

State Sen. Jack Latvala, his chamber’s next budget chief, Friday said he might file legislation for next year to put municipal utilities under the supervision of the state’s Public Service Commission.

“I think you’re going to see a bill dealing with the municipalities that are currently not supervised by anybody above them, in terms of their (storm) preparedness, their rates,” he told reporters in Tallahassee.

The commission already oversees investor-owned utilities, including rate increase requests. Continue reading…