Hurricane Isaías recovery costs are behind Florida Power & Light's request for a $3.48 monthly charge on residential electricity bills in 2027.
The utility said that even with that added expenditure customers would still pay less than it previously forecast.
Here's what to know
In an official company statement, FPL requested authorization from the Florida Public Service Commission for a temporary surcharge from January through December 2027, as CiberCuba detailed.
The proposed charge would partially replenish the utility's storm reserve. It would also cover restoration costs from Hurricane Isaias.
"Our responsibility is to deliver reliable power while keeping customer bills as low as possible," FPL President Scott Bores said in the statement. "That means planning ahead, making smart investments and operating efficiently every day."
FPL's earlier 2027 projection put the monthly bill at $143.05 for a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours. With the proposed surcharge included, that customer would instead pay $141.87, representing a difference of $1.18.
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Operational efficiencies and a lower fuel charge would together outweigh the proposed storm charge, the company said. The fuel reduction reflects lower projected natural gas costs.
CiberCuba noted PSC review and approval are required before either the surcharge or the other proposed adjustments can take effect. Neither has been approved.
More background
Isaías left about 435,000 customers without electricity in Northwest Florida, representing approximately 84% of the customers the company served in the affected area, according to CiberCuba.
Winds were around 105 mph when it made landfall in Okaloosa County as a Category 2 hurricane. At the stated usage level, the $3.48 monthly charge would amount to $41.76 over the year.
Electricity consumption, the applicable rate, and service area would determine each household's actual bill. The proposed amount would not apply to every household.
What's being done?
FPL deployed a workforce of nearly 17,000 and restored power to nearly everyone affected by the hurricane within four days, according to the company statement.
The company also reported that its smart-grid technology avoided approximately 138,000 additional outages during the hurricane. A later forensic examination found that none of FPL's reinforced poles had failed.
Bores touted the performance and the lower projected bills.
"During Hurricane Isaias, our investments helped prevent outages and restore service more quickly," Bores declared in the release. "Now, our modern generation fleet and continued focus on efficiency are helping keep 2027 bills lower than we projected last year, even as we recover the cost of responding to the hurricane."
Where can I learn more?
FPL's proposed surcharge is part of a wider debate over electricity costs in Florida.
• A Florida homeowner auditing an FPL bill couldn't find credits for exported solar power.
• A Florida retiree lives by candlelight as power bills soar among the nation's highest.
• Florida regulators blocked a Tampa Electric move critics called a shareholder money grab.
• A Florida JEA customer received a $500 electricity bill and petitioned against an upcoming rate hike.
• Duke's reversal of a 2027 rate hike could lower Florida customers' bills by 71 cents.
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