TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Lawmakers are making it clear early on this year: they want to reign in utility companies in the state, and a new bill is putting up a fight against powerful corporations.
Utility companies regularly fuel candidates with hefty campaign contributions, something that the bill's sponsors would consider outlawing or limiting. A separate bill would prevent a legislator from taking a Public Service Commission job until two years after leaving office.
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Utility companies driving up rates and getting most of what they want from the state's PSC has rubbed lawmakers the wrong way.
"I think the worst situation that has been allowed to develop is the coziness between the investor-owned utilities and the PSC," Sen. Jack Latvala said.
A new bill looks to curb that coziness. Latvala's proposal would require ethics training for commissioners on the PSC and put a hold on certain rate hikes.
Lawmakers touted the bill on the same day Jimmy Patronis, who was appointed from the Florida House by the governor, was sworn in as PSC commissioner. He vows to be consumer friendly.
"I'm always sensitive to the environment of making sure that mom and dad, who are having two kids at school and are working three jobs between them, have the ability to make ends meet," Patronis said.
Latvala said he should keep to that.
"I can tell you that I have told him eyeball to eyeball that I'm watching him," Latvala said.
Clean energy advocates said the bill is a pretty good start.
Susan Glickman, with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said utility companies are still getting whatever they want.
"The more they expend in capital expenditures the more they make," she said. "They're like waiters in a restaurant -- they get a guaranteed tip."
The bill would also mandate that the PSC hold annual meetings in their customers' service areas.