State Consumer Advocate To Consider FPL Increase

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) - Florida Power & Light should know by the end of the week if a state consumer advocate will appeal a base rate increase.

The Public Service Commission on Monday issued a formal order for the increase that it approved Dec. 14.

That began a 30-day period for appealing to the Florida Supreme Court.

Public Counsel J.R. Kelly said he's leaning toward an appeal but won't make a decision until his lawyers review the final order.

It accepts a settlement between FPL and several commercial and federal government customers. Kelly and the Florida Retail Federation oppose the agreement, saying it's a bad deal for most customers.

The settlement is expected to raise monthly base rates for a typical residential customer by nearly $10 over the next four years.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)