This week, FPL and other utilities effectively “bought” the Public Service Commission. Using a hand picked panel of legislators and lobbyists led by Sen. Mike Bennett (R – Bradenton), FPL and friends succeeded in firing Sen. Nancy Argenziano, current chair of the PSC, and Nathan Skop, another sitting PSC commissioner. The reason? These two had the temerity to vote against massive rate increases requested by FPL and Progress Energy. Bennett received $42,000 in contributions from utilities and the utilities admit “encouraging” some candidates to apply and contacting council members lobbying them to remove Sen. Argenziano and Nathan Skop.
Many of the nominees now on the committee’s list have ties to the PSC or to utilities. In true Tallahassee fashion, the former head of the Nominating Council, Sen. Lee Constantine, is among the chosen, as are FPL and Progress Energy executives and the former executive director of the PSC. It’s a stacked list, no question and we urge Gov. Crist not to select anyone from the list and leave the mess with the legislature.
FCAN opposed electing PSC members because we feared that utilities would buy the election but now, that question is moot. So, we are now advocating election of the PSC and working with Senator Mike Fasano on a bill that will do just that. FCAN thanks Sen. Fasano and others who fight for consumers. Sen. Arthenia Joyner was the only member of the nominating council to vote for Sen. Argenziano, the consumer advocate. Thank you.
FCAN will work to build a coalition of consumer groups and other interested parties to fight for an elected PSC. It’s interesting to note that the Florida Retail Federation, representing many small businesses, is solidly on the side of consumers. Associated Industries sides with the utilities. For some reason, Blue Cross led the way in the council to get rid of the consumer advocates.
This is simply outrageous behavior by the legislature. Most are incumbents who are re-elected without challenge. Consumers please note who, like Sen. Bennett, voted with the utilities.
