All of my life The Electric Companies have been encouraging energy conservation but FPL has broken the mold. Florida Power & Light is selectively targeting customers who conserve electricity with a higher base connection fee. they raised their base connection fee 278% but only for customers who use less than 250kw of energy per month. This hurts, poor people, those with solar panels and people of conscience trying to save energy and it rewards and incentivizes people to use more energy to fill their coffers. Now I can't even afford to use my AC window unit because I'll still be under the minimum kilowatt usage required to waive the fine for not using enough electricity. If FPL needs more money to cover costs they should raise rates across the board instead of targeting specific customers like myself who can't afford to FIX THEIR AIR CONDITIONERS and or afford an air conditioning bill. Now I'm forced to play an electric usage game. If I do use my window unit air conditioner I'll have to be sure to use at least 250kw of energy. If i use 249kw then the higher connection fee will kick-in then I'll have to pay even MORE.... I spoke with an attorney with the Florida Pulbic Service Commission who told me that FPL said that this fine would only impact "snowbirds" who leave their homes vacant for the Summer. So the FPSC didn't do their jobs to protect Florida consumers. If I can't afford electricity THEY KICK ME OUT OF MY HOME!!!!!
This is actually worse than just the new minimum charge. If you have solar and produce more kWh than you use, it will build your reserve. The reserve builds and is supposed to be applied to future usage. This reserve rolls over at the end of the month. Each bill I've received from FPL for the last two months has reduce my reserve to bring the kWh to 0, and then increased my bill to bring it back to the $25 minimum charge. In effect, I'm being double charged, first for the reserve that should reduce my bill, then for the 'minimum bill base charge; to bring the charges up to $25. In my view, this is theft of my reserve.
If everyone is surprised then you didn’t communicate effectively prior to implementation. That’s BS, when this legal monopoly can increase charges at will
