PSC Praises Utilities for
Undergrounding Plans and Efforts
By Scott Jenkins,
Carlton Fields
The Public Service Commission met July 7th with a full agenda of
business. During the meeting, updates to the storm- hardening
plans for Florida Power & Light, Tampa Electric Company, Duke
Energy Florida, Gulf Power Company, and the Florida Public Utilities
Companies were discussed and approved.
This discussion was continued from previous discussions at prior
PSC meetings. All five commissioners praised the cooperative
nature between the utilities, public counsel, staff and the local
governments. Undergrounding power lines and tree trimming
were the functions most pointed out as being a necessary and
continued future emphasis. No specific projects or programs were
discussed other than FP&L’s “Right Tree, Right Place” Program that is
being implemented in their service areas with the help of the local
governments. As PSC Commissioner Polmann pointed out, “This is
not more of the same but a continuous improvement effort.”
The costs for the improvements discussed cannot be recouped
from the ratepayers yet as these recommendations were made prior
to the effects for SB 796, which still must go through a rule -making
process. SB 786 saw much controversy in the 2019 Session as
many groups were concerned with making ratepayers, especially
the elderly, help foot the bill for storm- hardening improvements.
While the Legislature was concerned, they pointed out that, with
PSC oversight, the new rates will have to go through an approval
process. PSC Commissioner Clark looked forward to how the utility
improvements evolve to include the effects of the new legislation.
As the PSC rolls out the new rules for the utilities, it is suspected
that utility line protection projects such as undergrounding will occur
more frequently and become more common. PSC Commissioner
Brown expressed her love for initiatives for infrastructure projects
such as undergrounding. This is great news for our state and
industry.
SEPTEMBER 2019 • DITCHMEN
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