Florida Power & Light, along with several groups representing business interests, proposes to solve the utility’s historic charge case, which will put an end to the fight that affects the electricity bills of around 12 million Florida people.
In a filing posted late Friday afternoon, Florida’s Power & Light notified regulators that they had reached an agreement with several groups involved in the rate case. The list of these groups included many business interests, including a federation of retail companies, Walmart, gas stations, and industrial companies, but not other groups representing state-appointed consumer advocates or residents.
If approved by regulatory authorities, the filing will allow Florida Power & Light to pause progress on cases that are scheduled to begin a two-week continuous hearing on Monday.
These hearings lead to internal company documents becoming part of the public records, and company executives must answer questions for hours on the witness stand.
Instead, members of the Florida Public Service Commission could call Monday afternoon to decide whether to allow the utility’s request to suspend cases while the settlement is initially hampered. As settlement negotiations are confidential, it could change many arguments behind closed doors. However, groups opposing the settlement will demand that more thorough public cases still be held.
In a news release, Florida Power & Light President Armando Pimentel celebrated the news, saying that the settlement would be a “win for the customer.”
“The agreements that reach us allow FPL to continue to invest wisely on your behalf, allowing us to continue to provide reliable power to strengthen our burgeoning state while keeping customer invoices low,” his statement read.
Florida Power & Light’s nearly $10 billion rate hiking request is considered the largest in American history. The company is also seeking shareholder benefits. This is what independent researchers confirmed with the Tampa Bay Times, when the country has the most approved.
A group that primarily represents housing clients, including state-appointed public advisers, opposed allegations to stop the lawsuit in favor of the settlement.
In a letter filed Friday, they also told regulators they would submit more fully opposition on Monday, but during that time they were preparing for a scheduled hearing. Public Counsel Walt Trierweiler was against the company’s demands that it would allow customers to be double-imposed to jack the interests of shareholders.
“It’s a public interest to have a hearing,” says Bradley Marshall, the lawyer representing the three consumer and environmental groups in the case of rates.
He said that around 93% of Florida Power & Light’s customers are residents, but that supporters of the settlement are primarily businesses.
“It’s a small but a minority of FPL customers,” Marshall said.
Florida Power & Wright spokesman Andrew Sutton answered questions about the hearing and said that if a settlement is reached there will still be public debate on what it will be.
“The settlement agreement will continue what was presented to the Public Service Commission for its review and approval and was an extensive public process,” he said.
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Original issue: August 9, 2025, 10:48am EDT
