$635 Million Electric Rate Increase Stopped!
Consumers call for environmental measures.

Progress Energy filed a request with the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) for a $635 million  annual rate increase. The PSC, at FCAN’s urging, denied the rate increase and froze the rates for two years! Progress just won approval for a $670 million surcharge to cover hurricane costs, which is on appeal. FCAN is opposed this additional rate increase along with: the Public Counsel, AARP, the Florida Retail Federation, and the Florida Attorney General.

Progress Energy is an investor owned utility and a monopoly. That means investors put up the money to build power plants and electric line, and earn a return on their investment. Since the utility is a monopoly and everyone needs electricity, the utility could charge any price it wanted. However, utilities are regulated by the Public Service Commission in exchange for their monopoly status and guaranteed rate of return.

Green Power in NC, why not Florida ?

Progress Energy offers its North Carolina customers the opportunity to participate in a voluntary environmental program called NC GreenPower. NC GreenPower is a statewide effort to improve the environment by using "green power," electricity generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, biomass and water. Wind energy is pollution-free, infinitely sustainable form of energy. It doesn’t use fuel, it doesn’t produce greenhouse gasses, and it doesn’t produce toxic or radioactive waste. Solar Electric or Photovoltaic (PV) Systems convert some of the energy in sunlight directly into electricity. PV modules have no moving parts, are virtually maintenance-free, and have a working life of 20 - 30 years.

Progress Energy should clean up its power plants

Progress has the nation’s 12th dirtiest power plant in Crystal River. Alongside its nuclear units, the two coal burning units spew an amazing amount of pollution into the entire Tampa Bay region. This causes asthma and other respiratory diseases and results in lost work days, illness, and higher health care costs for everyone. Power plants are the largest sources of air pollution, not cars. Progress Energy, when asked why it wouldn’t do more to clean up Crystal River, said “We’re meeting legal requirements.” Other utilities in Florida have cleaned up their plants, why won’t Progress be a good neighbor?

Crystal River Power Plant Affects Your Health

Coal-fired power plants, like Progress Energy’s Crystal River, are the leading source of mercury emissions and make most fish unsafe to eat. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that 41% of our nation’s mercury emissions come from power plants. Mercury is released into the air through the process of burning coal; it turns into vapor and pollutes the air, water, land. Mercury is a very harmful neurotoxin that can affect the nervous, cardiovascular, and immune systems. Mercury is especially dangerous to pregnant women, women of childbearing years and children; affecting brain, vision, hearing, and motor skill development. Mercury can also cause lowered IQ and problems with attention and memory skills of children.

Mercury bioaccumulates, or builds up over time in the tissue of humans, fish and other animals. Because of the dangers associated with mercury, many of Florida’s waters are under mercury advisories from the EPA. These advisories warn consumers against the dangers of consuming mercury-polluted fish. The EPA and the Florida Department of Health recommend limiting your consumption of the following fish to one serving a month or less: Tuna, Large-mouth Bass, Bowfin, Redear Sunfish,  Black Crappie, Bluegill, and many other species of . Go to Florida Department of Health’s website for the current mercury advisory information

Electric utilities are a major source of air pollutants that affect lung health, including sulfur dioxide, a powerful asthma trigger, and nitrogen oxide, which is a component of ozone smog. Air quality experts nationwide have identified reducing emissions from power plants as a technologically feasible, cost-effective approach to achieving cleaner air. Electric utilities produce 66% of all sulfur dioxide emissions nationwide. Even brief exposure to relatively low levels of sulfur dioxide has been repeatedly shown to trigger attacks in people with asthma. Sulfur dioxide also contributes to the formation of fine particles, and to acid rain. Power plants are also the source of 29% of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. NOx is a major component of ozone smog and fine particulate matter, which affect the health of millions of Americans across wide areas of the country.