JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Update: State regulators approved Florida Power & Light Company's request to reduce rates in May due to lower fuel costs.
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) customers will see a rate decrease in April and could see another drop in May.
Rates were scheduled to go down starting April 1 due to the end of a temporary surcharge that was tacked onto bills to recover restoration costs during hurricane season.
A typical 1,000-kilowatt-hour residential customer bill will drop nearly $7 in April, according to FPL.
Now, FPL is seeking back-to-back rate decreases in April and May - which could make bills more than $14 lower than in March.
On Tuesday, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will consider a request to reduce rates for a second time in May.
FPL is asking PSC to lower fuel charges on bills to reflect lower projected costs of natural gas, which FPL power plants use to generate electricity.
If the decrease is approved, 1,000-kilowatt-hour residential customer bill will drop an additional $7.10 in May on top of the $7 reduction in April. That would make bills in Northwest Florida in May the lowest in nearly five years, according to FPL.
"We are committed to providing reliable energy and keeping customer bills as low as possible," said FPL President and CEO Armando Pimentel. "While we are pleased with the possibility of back-to-back rate reductions, we also encourage customers to take advantage of tools and tips from our energy experts to help customers reduce their energy usage and make their bills even lower."
Individual customer monthly bills vary in price based on the rates approved by PSC and a customer's electricity consumption.
For tips and tools to help reduce energy consumption, click here.