Duke Energy Florida files for recovery of costs associated with Hurricane Dorian

Duke Energy Florida filed with the Florida Public Service Commission last week to recover costs related to its storm response to Hurricane Dorian and Tropical Storm Nestor, both of which occurred in 2019.

Hurricane Dorian resulted in an estimated $171 million in storm costs, while Tropical Storm Nestor resulted in an estimated $400,000.

Hurricane Dorian peaked as a Category 5 storm and was initially predicted to affect much of Florida and cut electricity to millions of people. The eye of Hurricane Dorian came within 95 miles of Florida’s Atlantic coast, and high winds resulted in the loss of power for approximately 24,000 Duke Energy Florida customers, mostly in Central Florida.

To prepare for Hurricane Dorian, Duke Energy Florida mobilized and positioned approximately 7,800 employees and contractors to support restoration work.

“We’ve seen an increase in frequency and intensity of extreme weather events,” Catherine Stempien, Duke Energy Florida state president, said. “We’re working hard to strengthen our electric grid while minimizing impacts to customer bills.”

If Duke Energy Florida’s request is approved, the typical monthly bill for a residential customer will increase by $5.34 per 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity, starting in March 2020 and continuing for 12 months.

Commercial and industrial customers would see an increase of between 2.6 percent and 7.7 percent. The specific bill impact on individual businesses would vary based on several factors.

The Florida Public Service Commission will review the costs and determine the final amount to be recovered in a proceeding next year.