Commission approves Duke Energy Florida storm restoration surcharge

The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) approved an interim storm restoration surcharge for Duke Energy Florida to recover costs related to 2019 Hurricane Dorian and Tropical Storm Nestor.

With the approval, a monthly residential 1,000-kilowatt-hour customer bill will increase $5.34 starting March 2020 and running through February 2021.

“Florida utilities had to mobilize a significant workforce to prepare for possible storm damage and be positioned to restore power as quickly as possible following Hurricane Dorian and Tropical Storm Nestor,” PSC Chairman Gary Clark said. “We will continue to scrutinize storm costs to minimize the impact on customer bills and ensure that Florida remains the leader in disaster preparation and post-storm restoration.”

Duke Energy Florida, which serves about 1.8 million customers in Florida, incurred approximately $171.3 million, including interest, from storm restoration efforts. The interim storm restoration recovery charge is subject to refund with interest pending the commission’s review of Duke Energy Florida’s actual restoration costs. The disposition of any over or under recovery, and interest, will be considered by the commission at a later date.

The procedures to address storm cost recovery were established by the PSC-approved 2017 Agreement between DEF, the Office of Public Counsel, the Florida Industrial Power Users Group, the Florida Retail Federation, White Springs Agricultural Chemicals, Inc. d/b/a PCS Phosphate, and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.