This week, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) approved an interim storm restoration recovery surcharge allowing Duke Energy Florida, LLC (DEF) to recover costs related to 2019 Hurricane Dorian and Tropical Storm Nestor.
DEF reported costs of $171.3 million, including interest. With the PSC’s approval, a monthly residential 1,000-kilowatt-hour customer bill will increase $5.34—effective March 2020 through February 2021.
“Florida utilities had to mobilize a significant workforce to prepare for possible storm damage and be positioned to restore power as quickly as possible following Hurricane Dorian and Tropical Storm Nestor,” said PSC Chairman Gary Clark. “We will continue to scrutinize storm costs to minimize the impact on customer bills and ensure that Florida remains the leader in disaster preparation and post-storm restoration.”
The interim storm restoration recovery charge is subject to refund with interest pending PSC review of the utility’s actual restoration costs. The disposition of any over or under recovery, and interest, will be considered by the PSC at a later date.
The PSC-approved 2017 Agreement between DEF, the Office of Public Counsel, the Florida Industrial Power Users Group, the Florida Retail Federation, White Springs Agricultural Chemicals, Inc. d/b/a PCS Phosphate, and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy established procedures to address storm cost recovery.
DEF serves about 1.8 million customers in Florida.
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