More Electricity Increasing?
On Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, at 9:30 a.m., the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will begin its Cost Recovery Clause hearing to determine 2024 recovery charges for fuel and purchased power, environmental, conservation, and other costs for customers of Florida Power & Light Company; Duke Energy Florida, LLC; Tampa Electric Company; and Florida Public Utilities Company.
In addition, the Commission will determine 2024 purchased gas and natural gas conservation recovery charges for customers of Florida City Gas; Peoples Gas System, Inc.; St. Joe Gas Company, Inc.; and Florida Public Utilities Company.
Under Florida Statute, utilities may recover fuel and purchased power costs necessary to meet customer demand but may not earn a profit on fuel purchases. The fuel charge appears as a separate line item on customer bills. Capacity, conservation, and environmental costs are included in the energy charge and not listed separately on customer bills.
The Cost Recovery Clause hearing is scheduled for the following time and location:
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
9:30 a.m.
Betty Easley Conference Center
Joseph P. Cresse Hearing Room (Room 148)
4075 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, Florida
Let the Whale Fights Begin
From The News Service of Florida: Federal officials’ rejection of a petition seeking to protect a rare whale species in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico has proponents saying the action leaves the endangered species “at risk of extinction.”
Hailing the denial of the petition, however, maritime leaders continued to object to a similar proposal regarding another whale species found off Florida’s east coast.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries on Friday denied a request to implement a “vessel slowdown zone” in waters 100 meters to 400 meters deep from Pensacola to south of Tampa to protect Rice’s whales from collisions with vessels and noise.
“We have concluded that fundamental conservation tasks, including finalizing the critical habitat designation, drafting a species recovery plan, and conducting a quantitative vessel risk assessment, are all needed before we consider vessel regulations,” the agency said in a bulletin posted on its website.
Rice’s whales are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and listed as endangered by the federal government.
NOAA said the agency was denying the petition “because we are prioritizing other conservation actions for Rice’s whales: finalizing critical habitat for the species, conducting additional vessel risk assessments, and developing a recovery plan for the species.”
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West Moreno Closed Two Weeks
Construction work on West Moreno Street began Friday, Oct. 27, with detours in place between North “Q” and North “S” streets. Crews are installing a storm drainage system along West Moreno Street, and the road is expected to reopen by Friday, Nov, 10.
Traffic is detoured along North “Q” Street, to West Mallory Street, to North “S” Street, and North “S” Street to West Mallory Street to North “Q” Street. The intersection of North “R” Street and West Moreno Street is closed and detoured.
