Last Tuesday, lawmakers in Tallahassee voted to advance SB 1024, a bill that will drastically reduce Floridians’ ability to save money by investing in solar power generation on their homes, businesses, and places of worship. This bill will also kill thousands of good paying jobs in the residential solar industry and make sure the Sunshine State has some of the most restrictive laws regarding personal solar ownership in America. The need to act to preserve Floridians’ basic right to energy independence and controlling their power bills is urgent. We are facing monopoly utilities with a documented history of engaging in big money contributions to preserve their power, so we must act now.
What is SB 1024 and why is net metering important?
SB 1024, sponsored by Senator Jennifer Bradley, directs the Public Service Commission (PSC) to revise the state’s Net Metering Rule, requiring utilities to purchase electricity generated by solar owners and credit their account. The bill would ask the PSC to change the way solar owners are compensated, and would increase fees and rates on solar owners, reducing the value of their investment and their savings on their bills. Net metering has been a tremendous success across America, with more than 40 states and territories adopting net metering rules that have resulted in more than 2 million solar installations, saving billions of dollars in power bills, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and particulate matter that causes asthma and other health issues. The solar industry also grew to support over 260,000 jobs in the U.S. in 2016. Sounds like a win-win right?
Net metering is a benefit for consumers and society, but distributed solar generation and customer ownership does have its detractors. Most notably, major electric utilities don’t like it because it does reduce utility profits and their control over consumers. In Florida, most customers receive electricity from one of the state-granted monopoly utilities: Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy, Tampa Electric Company, and Florida Public Utilities Company. Despite the fact consumers have no choice but to buy from these companies, every year these companies make millions of dollars in donations to Florida politicians and special interest groups, wielding disproportionate influence in Tallahassee.
Who wrote the bill?
In December, a bombshell report came out, and was later reported in several outlets, that the author of the net metering bill was Florida Power & Light. The reporting stated that company lobbyists wrote the bill and delivered it to Senator Bradley. A $10,000 donation to Senator Bradley’s political committee followed 2 days later.
Several journalists contributed to the reporting, but FP&L singled out one, Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald, and launched a website and promoted Tweet (prompting calls for an investigation to determine whether customer funds paid for the messaging) smearing her reputation and making accusations of anti-utility bias, while studiously avoiding questioning the accuracy of her reporting.
Why is the Miami Herald afraid to let its readers hear opposing voices? Read more @ https://t.co/CJsENaJzYk.
— Florida Power & Light (@insideFPL) January 5, 2022
If it seems strange to you that your stodgy electric utility is engaging in a Twitter beef with people who criticize them, then buckle up, it gets much, much darker and more confusing. We will have more on this coming up.
Actions you can take on the environment, economic opportunity:
Save Florida’s Sea Turtles! Tell your State Representative to Vote NO on HB 1515
If local governments can no longer enact or strengthen their existing ordinances, it is no exaggeration to say that thousands of sea turtles may die each year.
Write Your Lawmakers: Protect the Everglades
Write your lawmakers to protect the Everglades.
Modernize Florida’s Outdated Unemployment Benefits
Florida’s unemployment system failed us when we needed it most. The economy depends on workers smoothly transitioning to new jobs, not being forced into impossible decisions by underfunded and outdated unemployment benefits that push families into poverty.
More articles about solar freedom:
The Power Company Making Florida into a “Living Hell”
Outrageously high power bills in 2022 are explained by years of political interference from FPL, Florida’s largest electricity monopoly.
Tell Ron DeSantis: Veto the FPL Giveaway
A bill, HB 741, heavily backed by utility companies like Florida Power & Light, just passed through both the Florida House and the Senate. Its last stop before becoming law: Governor DeSantis’s desk. He has the chance to veto this law, stop increased energy bills, and encourage solar freedom and energy independence in Florida.
Setting Sun—Just The Latest Attack On Florida Solar Freedom
New legislation being pushed to curtail rooftop solar options is only the latest in a long series of attacks by FPL on consumer energy freedom in Florida.
FPL Controls Your Energy. They’re Accused Of Controlling Your Vote.
Is the money you pay on your FPL electric bill being used to change the outcome of Florida’s elections?
