TALLAHASSEE, Florida — The Office of Public Counsel is asking state regulators to slash by more than half Tampa Electric Co.’s three-year, $469-million rate hike request submitted in April.
The details: Industrial and retail business groups, energy justice groups, federal agencies and Walmart joined Public Counsel Walt Trierweiler on Thursday in filing testimony challenging TECO’s request.
The utility would be allowed to collect more than $1.1 billion over three years from its 840,000 customers if its request is approved. The Public Counsel’s witnesses also challenged the requested 11.5 percent return on equity and the forecast fuel savings from solar projects.
“Our goal has been to respond to the utility’s aggressive ask with a well-supported and effective response,” Trieweiler told POLITICO. His office was created to represent Florida taxpayers in utility disputes.
