Rising Utility Bills in Florida: What Washington Can Do to Lower Your Energy Costs

Florida residents are paying significantly more for electricity than they were five years ago. In Manatee and Hillsborough counties, utility customers of Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric (TECO) have seen multiple rate increases approved by the Florida Public Service Commission. The question most customers are asking is: when does it stop — and what can be done about it?

The honest answer involves decisions being made in Washington, D.C. — not just in Tallahassee.

Duke Energy Florida and TECO: Why Your Electric Bill Keeps Rising

The two major electric utilities serving Florida’s 16th Congressional District are Duke Energy Florida (serving Manatee County and parts of Hillsborough County) and Tampa Electric Company (TECO) (serving much of Hillsborough County, including Riverview, Brandon, and the Tampa area). Both are regulated monopolies overseen by the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC).

Florida utilities set their rates through a formal rate case process: they file a petition with the FPSC requesting a rate increase, regulators review the application over several months, and if approved, the increase is passed to customers. This process is designed to allow utilities a fair return on investment while protecting consumers — but in practice, utilities typically receive most of what they request.

What has driven recent increases:

• Natural gas fuel costs. Both Duke Energy Florida and TECO rely heavily on natural gas to generate electricity. When natural gas prices spiked following global supply disruptions in 2022, fuel costs were passed directly to customers through a “fuel adjustment” component of their bills. These adjustments can significantly increase monthly charges independent of any formal rate case.
• Grid hardening and storm preparation. After repeated hurricane damage, Florida utilities have invested billions in underground power lines and grid resilience improvements. These costs are recovered through customer rates over time.
• Renewable energy investments. Utilities have invested significantly in solar farms and other renewable capacity — partly driven by federal clean energy policy — and these capital costs are recovered through base rate increases.
• Transmission and distribution upgrades. Serving rapidly growing communities like Lakewood Ranch, Parrish, and Riverview requires constant infrastructure expansion, which is funded through customer rates.

The average Florida residential electricity customer now pays among the higher rates in the Southeast. In a state where air conditioning runs essentially year-round — and where summer electric bills can routinely reach $200–$400 per month — this is not a minor inconvenience. For retirees on fixed incomes in Sun City Center and families in Riverview, rising utility costs are a genuine financial strain.

The Federal Policies Driving Up Your Florida Energy Bill

While Florida utility rates are set by the FPSC, federal energy policy significantly affects the costs utilities must pass to customers. Several federal policy decisions have contributed to higher electricity costs:

Natural gas export policy. The United States has become a major exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe and Asia. Increased LNG exports have tightened domestic natural gas supply and raised prices — which flows directly into higher electricity generation costs for Florida utilities that depend on natural gas.

EPA emissions regulations. Federal EPA rules have required utilities to accelerate the retirement of older, lower-cost coal and natural gas power plants. The transition to newer, cleaner facilities involves significant capital investment — which is recovered through customer rates over years and decades.

Permitting and regulatory delays for energy infrastructure. New pipelines, transmission lines, and power generation facilities face lengthy federal permitting processes. Delays in bringing new supply to market keep energy costs higher than they would be with faster permitting.

Federal clean energy mandates. While solar and wind energy have important roles in Florida’s future grid, federal policies that mandate rapid transitions before these technologies are fully cost-competitive can impose transition costs on ratepayers. These subsidies and mandates affect the rate structure customers pay.

The bottom line: Washington’s energy policy decisions show up on your monthly electric bill. A congressman who does not understand — or does not care about — the impact of federal energy regulations on Florida ratepayers is not fighting for this district.

How to Lower Your Electric Bill in Florida Right Now

While Congress works on long-term solutions, there are practical steps FL-16 households can take to reduce their monthly electric bills today:

• Enroll in budget billing. Both Duke Energy Florida and TECO offer budget billing programs that spread your annual electricity cost into equal monthly payments, eliminating the spike of summer bills. Contact your utility’s customer service or check their website to enroll.
• Ask about time-of-use rates. TECO and Duke Energy both offer time-of-use rate plans that charge less during off-peak hours (typically evenings, nights, and weekends). If you can shift high-energy activities like laundry and dishwashing to these hours, you can reduce your bill meaningfully.
• Take advantage of utility efficiency programs. Duke Energy Florida and TECO both offer free or subsidized home energy audits, rebates for efficient appliances, and rebates for smart thermostats. Check duke-energy.com/home/products/home-energy-checkup and tecoenergy.com/save-energy for current programs.
• Weatherize your home. Air sealing, attic insulation, and window film can significantly reduce the cooling load on your AC — the single largest contributor to summer electric bills in Florida. Many improvements pay for themselves within a few years in utility savings.
• Upgrade your thermostat. A programmable or smart thermostat can reduce AC usage during hours when no one is home and typically pays for itself within one cooling season.
• Check for low-income assistance programs. Florida’s LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) provides utility bill assistance for qualifying households. Contact your county’s community services department to check eligibility.

What Congress Can Do — and John Peters’ Energy Plan

John Peters believes the fastest way to lower energy costs for Florida families is to increase domestic energy production — oil, natural gas, and nuclear — to drive prices down through supply. Affordable energy is not just an economic issue; in Florida’s climate, it is a public health issue for elderly and lower-income residents who cannot afford to run their air conditioning adequately during summer heat emergencies.

Peters will fight for:

• Expanding domestic natural gas production and infrastructure. Cutting the federal regulatory barriers that restrict natural gas drilling, pipeline construction, and LNG export terminal permitting — while ensuring sufficient domestic supply to keep prices competitive — is the single fastest way to reduce the fuel costs that drive Florida electric bills.
• Investing in next-generation nuclear energy. Nuclear produces zero emissions and delivers reliable baseload power at competitive costs. Small modular reactor (SMR) technology offers a path to clean, affordable baseload power that doesn’t depend on weather conditions. Peters supports federal investment in SMR development and streamlining NRC permitting for new nuclear facilities.
• Cutting regulations that impose costs without proportional benefits. Federal EPA rules that require expensive upgrades to generation facilities without meaningful air quality improvements for Florida communities should be revised. Regulatory costs always end up on the ratepayer’s bill.
• Investing in grid resilience and modernization. Federal investment in Florida’s transmission grid — including support for underground lines in hurricane-prone areas — reduces storm-related outages and the expensive restoration costs that get passed to customers. The infrastructure investments Peters is fighting for serve double duty: improved reliability and reduced long-term costs. Read the infrastructure plan →

Florida is a state that depends on affordable energy. Air conditioning is not a luxury in this climate — it is a health necessity, particularly for elderly residents and families with young children. Congress must take seriously its responsibility to keep energy affordable for the families that depend on it.

See John Peters’ full platform →