Tampa City Council Approves TECO Deal, 5-2

Opponents of a franchise agreement with Tampa Electric Co. tried to force Mayor Pam Iorio's hand, but in the end, they didn't have enough support to make it happen.

A couple members of the city council, backed by a coalition of environmental, consumer advocacy and neighborhood groups, wanted Iorio to use the agreement to push for more renewable energy programs and force the regional utility to reduce its reliance on coal.

Iorio's administration, which over the past three years negotiated a renewal of the city's long-term agreement with TECO, argued that the state should negotiate those issues, not the city.

On Thursday, the council voted 5-2 to approve the agreement, despite several hours of emotional testimony, mostly from opponents who wanted the city to delay its approval.

"TECO is a monopoly," said Beverly Griffiths, chairwoman of the Tampa Bay chapter of the Sierra Club. "Once they've got their agreement signed they will be even more empowered to resist changes that people are clamoring for, while raising their rates."

Council members Linda Saul-Sena and John Dingfelder voted against the agreement.

"This is a defining moment in our city," Saul-Sena said before the vote was cast. "We can fight this or cave in to approving this mediocre agreement that is before us."

Council president Tom Scott, along with a majority of the council, said their hands were tied.

"Under the charter, we have no authority to negotiate an agreement," he said.

The 25-year agreement determines how much the utility pays for using the city's rights of way for its power lines. Under the agreement approved Thursday, the city collects a portion of a 4.6 percent franchise fee tacked on to every TECO power bill in the city. Over the life of the contract, the percentage can increase up to 6 percent.

Tom Hernandez, TECO's vice president of energy supply, said the utility is working to expand the amount of renewable energy it uses and is willing to work with the city. But he said TECO wouldn't make those initiatives part of the franchise agreement.

Iorio and council members have wrangled over the proposed agreement for weeks.

The franchise agreement will now be sent to Iorio for her signature.