Regulators approve TECO Peoples Gas’ settlement for customer rates
New rates help utility keep pace with Florida’s growth and evolving customer needs and expectations
TAMPA, November 19, 2020
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) today unanimously
approved TECO Peoples Gas’ proposed base-rate settlement that takes effect in January.
As result of the settlement, typical residential customers with annual consumption between 100 and 249 therms and billed at the RS-2 rate will see an increase of about $2.48 to their total monthly bills. For typical business customers with annual consumption between 2,000 and 9,999 therms and billed at the GS-1 rate, the increase will be about $24.12 to their total monthly bills.
“This settlement helps to strengthen our commitment to fuel Florida’s future with clean, safe and resilient natural gas,” said T.J. Szelistowski, president of Peoples Gas. “This is a fair resolution for our more than 400,000 customers across the state, and we could not have achieved it without the dedicated effort of all the groups working together to reach this constructive compromise.”
The settlement was reached between
Peoples Gas, the Office of Public Counsel and the Florida Industrial Power
Users Group, and ends the formal rate request process that the utility began
earlier this year. After deferring its original filing for 60 days due to the
pandemic, Peoples Gas filed a petition with the PSC in June for an increase in
base rates to be effective in 2021. In October, the utility and the intervening
parties agreed to file a joint motion requesting the PSC approve a settlement.
This is the utility’s first base
rate increase in 12 years, and is associated with the cost to deliver natural gas from its source to
serve customers, including the construction, operations and maintenance of the
Peoples Gas system. This is not an increase to the price of natural gas,
which has continued to be stable.
The
company offers programs to support customers as well as flexible payment
arrangements. It also provides opportunities for customers to qualify for
cash-back rebates through conservation programs at peoplesgas.com/rebates and peoplesgas.com/bizrebates. To
help customers manage energy usage and spend, Peoples Gas launched an online
energy audit at peoplesgas.com/onlineaudit this spring. A variety of appliance
calculators also are available online to help customers pinpoint opportunities
for savings.
Peoples Gas System, Florida’s largest natural gas distribution utility, serves about 400,000 customers across the state. Peoples Gas is a subsidiary of Emera Inc., a geographically diverse energy and services company headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.