Biggest rate increase ever by a FL utility company.

''Wow,'' said Charlie Beck of the Office of Public Counsel, which represents utility customers, when he heard the numbers. ``Wow. This is the biggest rate increase I have ever seen requested by a utility in Florida. This is really something.''

Customers of Florida Power & Light will pay a base rate of $12.40 a month more next year if the state approves the company's rate-hike request.

FPL's base rate is currently $39.31. If the request is granted, the base rate next year will be $51.71. That's a 31 percent increase.

SAVINGS IN FUEL

In a press release, FPL estimated that customers will save about $5 a month overall starting Jan. 1, but that change included anticipated declines in fuel charges. The bill of a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month would drop on Jan. 1 from $109.55 to $104.63, according to that estimate.

In a follow-up e-mail, Villafaña wrote that those numbers include an estimate from February that 2010 fuel prices will allow a bill reduction of $17.83 a month. ``Actual 2010 fuel costs could vary from this projection.''

Looks like it might be a good time to look into solar energy as an alternative to these never ending rate increases by FPL.

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Bob Gentile Solar Energy Consultant with Abundant Energy Inc. www.Solar-FL.com 561.732.5181

Abundant Energy Inc. is Florida's leader in Solar Energy, celebrating 23 Years of Service.

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