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Proposals To Raise Electric Bills Up For Votes Today

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By RUSSELL RAY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 12, 2008

TAMPA - State regulators are expected to decide today whether Tampa Electric Co. and Progress Energy can raise electric bills next year to cover higher costs for oil, natural gas and other fuels used to generate electricity.

Under TECO's proposal, bills would increase about 12 percent beginning in January. The cost of 1,000 kilowatt-hours would rise from $114.38 to $128.44.

Progress Energy's fuel cost proposal would lead to a 13 percent increase in bills. Progress Energy bills already are set to go up 11 percent in January to pay for the preconstruction costs of a proposed nuclear plant in Levy County and the expansion of the utility's existing nuclear plant in Crystal River.

Altogether, Progress Energy customers could see bills rise 25 percent in January. That translates to $137.87 for 1,000 kilowatt-hours, up from $110.59 now.

The Public Service Commission, which delayed its vote last week after asking the utilities for more information, is expected to vote on fuel rate plans for both utilities today. To ease the financial burden for customers, the commission could require the utilities to recover their costs over a couple of years.

Reporter Russell Ray can be reached at (813) 259-7870.

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