FPL Customers To See Lower Storm Costs

TALLAHASSEE — After Florida Power & Light said the tab for restoring electricity after Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole was lower than expected, state regulators Thursday approved a proposal that will reduce the amount of storm costs passed along to customers.

The Public Service Commission unanimously approved the proposal, which FPL filed in September. It will mean that from January through March, FPL customers will see a decrease in the part of their bills that goes for storm-related costs.

Utilities have long been able to pass along costs linked to preparing for storms and restoring power. They typically seek what is known as an “interim” approval that allows them to start collecting estimated costs, before coming back later with an accounting of actual costs.

The Public Service Commission in March approved a plan to allow FPL to collect interim costs related to Ian and Nicole, remaining costs from some previous storms and money to replenish a storm reserve. FPL received approval to collect the money from April 2023 through March 2024.