From an email to FPL customers:
FPL customers: Good news, you're getting a rebate!
Our customers will start the new year with a one-time fuel rebate recently
approved by the Florida Public Service Commission. "Customers are seeing
the benefit not only of lower fuel prices but also our investments in modern,
more fuel-efficient power plants," said FPL President and CEO Armando Olivera.
Current customers during the January 2010 billing cycle (meter readings Jan.
1 through Feb. 2) are eligible to receive the refund. The exact amount is based
on your energy usage. For instance, a customer who used 1,000 kilowatt-hours
in their January bill would receive a rebate of approximately $44. FPL does
not make a profit on the fuel purchased to produce electricity. [editor's note:
whereas LWU does!]
Editor's comment: FPL’s typical residential bill is the lowest of all
54 electric utilities in Florida, and including the proposed BASE RATE increase,
customer bills will actually decrease about 8% on Jan. 4, 2010 due to lower
fuel prices.
LWU rates, on the other hand, will be increasing 8% (neutral of fuel) over
the next two years (4% this year, 4% next year) to meet Lake Worth budget deficits
incurred by waste and mismanagement. As long as the present commission majority
continues to overlook the waste that THEY have knowingly voted for... it is
most certain that rates will increase beyond what has been projected.
With LWU rates currently around 31% higher than FPL (including all taxes) this
means that in two years if LWU can hold its rate increase to 8% and FPL rates
decrease by the projected 9%... LW rate payers will be paying nearly 50% more
for their power than their FPL neighbors.
This will likely precipitate a very strong movement to sell the utility which
is the unfortunate consequence of city management and the commission majority
leaving thieves to run the utility ...and not because the utility can't be managed
properly and provide a benefit to the community.
LWU was commissioned to give the people of LW an advantage and benefit but
it has turned out to be operated for the benefit of city staff, utility employees,
consultants, contractors and perveyors all of whom feed at the public troth
made even more attractive by current management.
