From The News Service of Florida: Gulf Power and consumer attorneys have reached a proposed $13.2 million settlement about costs for the utility related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gulf Power and the state Office of Public Counsel, which represents consumers in utility issues, are asking the Florida Public Service Commission to approve the settlement.
Gulf Power, the largest utility in Northwest Florida, made a filing at the commission last year that was aimed at recouping costs for safety-related measures and bad debt from customers not paying bills during the pandemic.
The Public Service Commission initially approved the request, but the Office of Public Counsel protested. The issue was scheduled to go back to the regulatory commission last week, but was put on hold after Gulf Power and the Office of Public Counsel filed the proposed settlement.
Under the proposal, Gulf Power would be able to take accounting steps that would eventually lead to recovering $13.2 million from customers. The settlement would cover costs through June 30. Any costs incurred after that point would be “deemed a separate event by the parties and already recovered through base rates,†the proposed settlement said.