TALLAHASSEE, Florida — A Public Service Commission hearing officer has rejected a challenge by Public Counsel Walt Trierweiler to Duke Energy Florida’s three-year, $830-million rate hike request.
The details: Commissioner Gabriella Passidomo, the PSC hearing officer on the case, in an order issued Wednesday rejected Trierweiler’s arguments that the Duke request amounted to three rate hike cases that require separate proceedings.
Trierweiler, in a May 20 motion, said Duke customers will be “irreparably prejudiced” by a hearing process that is meant for considering a single rate case instead of three. But Passidomo said the commission will decide the appropriateness of the rate hike request following a full hearing in August.
“To change course now and set aside the preparatory work [Duke Energy Florida] has performed and the substantial discovery already conducted on three test years would result in delay and added expense,” Passidomo wrote.
