Skip to content
  • Home
  • World News
  • Business
  • Aviation
  • Military
  • Lifestyle
  • Real Estate
  • Auto
195 news

195News

All the news that's fit to print

  • Home
  • World News
  • Business
  • Aviation
  • Military
  • Lifestyle
  • Real Estate
  • Auto
  • Toggle search form
  • Texas Excludes Tesla From Its Extensive New EV Rebate Program Aviation
  • Official Music Video of “Centerfold” – Dropping May 31st Atlanta’s Summer Anthem World News
  • Tesla Powerwall Owners Can Sell Energy Back To The Grid Aviation
  • Passiv Closes $2.2 Million USD Seed Round to Build SnapTrade: A Unified API for Aggregating Trading Accounts Lifestyle
  • Germany New Immigration Rules 2022 | Workers / Students / Spouses Good News ! Germany Immigration World News
  • Veelo Technologies to Spotlight Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies for Composite Systems at SAMPE 2022 Military
  • Global EV Charging Stations Market 2022 Energy
  • Boney Kapoor Wants to Revell inside Story of Sridevi Lifestyle l Gossip Adda l Namaste Telugu
    Boney Kapoor Wants to Revell inside Story of Sridevi Lifestyle l Gossip Adda l Namaste Telugu Lifestyle

Local Grassroots Buzz Busts FPL Bill

Posted on May 17, 2022September 10, 2022 By NewsEditor

Levin Papantonio Rafferty Attorney Mike Papantonio wrote to the Florida PSC and personally funded a string of television PSA’s, on top of an online petition and heavy social media, to get the attention of regulators and demand a new rate hearing.

FPL bill spikes

Papantonio’s PSA ads featured a scrolling presentation of hiked-up power bills as submitted by Northwest Florida residents via postal mail, Facebook comments, and phone calls.

From persistent PSAs to online petitions to social media, NW Florida residents clearly nudged Gov. Ron DeSantis to veto HB 741–Mike Papantonio lead the charge.

NextEra is used to operating in communities that are unwilling to aggressively push back. That is not the case here.”

— Mike Papantonio – Levin Papantonio, Rafferty attorney

PENSACOLA, FL, U.S.A., May 13, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ — Pensacola Attorney Mike Papantonio, of Pensacola law firm Levin Papantonio Rafferty (LPR), joins tens of thousands of Northwest Florida residents in celebrating Gov. Ron DeSantis’ veto of HB 741. In Papantonio’s eyes, the governor’s sudden change of heart came about only after Floridians got angry and got vocal.

“NextEra is used to operating in communities that are unwilling to aggressively push back,” Papantonio said. “That is not the case here.”

Florida Power & Light (FPL), backers of the bill, is owned by NextEra Energy.

Floridians Saw Through Thinly Veiled Motives

The controversial bill would have reduced the amounts due to rooftop solar users from utility companies buying back excess power. This raised the eyebrows of many Floridians who had grown wary of FPL since the company purchased homegrown utility company Gulf Power Company three years ago. As more and more residents began exploring the idea of going solar, FPL unveiled its plans to control solar.

This would come as no surprise to Papantonio whose suspicions sprung with the discovery that FPL parent company NextEra happens to be one of the largest alternative energy distributors in the world.

“This is a massive corporation that lost its moral compass long ago,” Papantonio explained, “and our politicians and regulators seem to be fine with that.”

Devastatingly High Bills Triggered Action

The people of Florida’s Panhandle started bucking the FPL-backed bill in January when the utility company’s rate hike took effect. It was at this time that Papantonio’s phone started ringing. Residents were calling the attorney nonstop, pleading for his help in combatting the utility giant.

In February, Papantonio drafted a letter to the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC), demanding that it reconsider approval of the utility rate increase that was causing power bills to spike by hundreds of dollars—essentially doubling or even tripling from the previous month’s bills.

An Outpouring of Frustration Flooded Social Media

When LPR posted its social media PSA and a petition demanding an FPL audit, the firm’s Facebook page came alive with comments from angry residents adding comments like:

• “Using kerosene lanterns right now. In the dark with an elderly mother. Shaking my head. Evil just plain evil.”– Jain D.

• “I guess a lot of people will be moving away from this tyranny. I lived here my entire old life and will be leaving. I cannot afford it. Sad to be run out of your home state because of electric bills.” –Denise G.

• “I’d like to see all the bank accounts of each politician. Follow the $$. Ethics Commission has to review all political donations. Who from Fl will leave office wealthier than when going in office?” — Kathy E.

• “I’m a retired senior and disabled on top of this. Now I’m deciding on light bills, medicine, groceries, and any emergency that might come up. I don’t know at this point what people are gonna do…with this inflation on top of everything.” — Teresa D.

• “I’ve suspected this all along. With all the ads I was seeing to “go solar and beat the greedy power company” it seemed pretty clear someone was trying to force everyone into a corner about going solar.” — Kristina S.

• “My bill was like $150 or $200 a month now it’s over $622 …my [power] might be cut off soon so that means my food will go bad. I’m a stay at home grandma–I don’t get food stamps or have health insurance…if my electric gets turn off my grandkids can’t stay over or come over… something needs to be done I’m already sick with a head cold for a month now cause I don’t use my heat unless my grandkids come to stay.” — Diane B.

• “Bill almost tripled! Is it not a PUBLIC utility??”– Marion D.

• “From $192 to $333 to [projected] over $500 for next month. Now I’m sitting at home working wrapped in a blanket, with my blinds open for adequate lighting. Why are we being forced to ice like this when 2 months ago our usage wasn’t a problem? Suddenly I’m the light police in my house, unplugging everything I can. This is just insanity to me, and I can’t imagine any of this is legal. Thank you for what you are doing! We need someone to represent us as our elected officials either refuse or can’t be found…”. — Becky S.

• “My bill went from $210.00 to $500.00. Now I’m afraid to use my oxygen.” — Margaret L.

The Fever of Frustration Broke When Least Expected

As this information spread, FPL customers learned their utility bill anomalies were perhaps not the exception, but rather the norm. A group of local individuals formed a Facebook group aimed at forcing a response from Florida regulators. They launched a petition that generated 17,000 signatures.

The outrage grew as Tallahassee kept a nervous watch. Finally, on April 27, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed HB 741, which would have permitted Florida electric companies to thwart solar panel investments by homeowners and businesses by imposing steep fees for such installations.

“Given that the United States is experiencing the worst inflation in 40 years and that customers have seen steep increases in the price of gas and groceries, as well as escalating bills, the state of Florida should not contribute to the financial crunch that our citizens are experiencing,” DeSantis explained in his veto letter.

Florida Conservation Voters, however, gave credit for the veto to Florida citizens. The group tweeted, “Gigantic win. All credit to the people of Florida, who know a bad deal when they see it — and made themselves heard!”

Sara Stephens
Levin Papantonio Rafferty
+1 281-744-6560
email us here
Visit us on social media:
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Other

FPL: Fix Your Mess!

You just read:

News Provided By

May 13, 2022, 06:48 GMT


EIN Presswire’s priority is source transparency. We do not allow opaque clients, and our editors try to be careful about weeding out false and misleading content.
As a user, if you see something we have missed, please do bring it to our attention. Your help is welcome. EIN Presswire, Everyone’s Internet News Presswire™,
tries to define some of the boundaries that are reasonable in today’s world. Please see our
Editorial Guidelines
for more information.



Article originally published at https://www.einpresswire.com/article/572187569/local-grassroots-buzz-busts-fpl-bill

originally published at Energy - Social Gov

Energy

Post navigation

Previous Post: Key Players To Leverage On The Metal Nanoparticles Market For A Range Of Applications
Next Post: Automotive Smart Key Market Sees Substantial Growth With The Increasing Demand For Luxury Cars

Related Posts

  • Good News for Renewable Energy Stock | best green energy stocks 2022 | wind energy Energy
  • Heath Consultants Adds SEMTECH HI-FLOW 2 Leak Quantification Instrument to Product Line Energy
  • Kenneth W. Welch Jr. Awarded “Inventor of the Year” at The Inaugural “Henosis ESI Summit” Houston 2022 Energy
  • Archimedes Startup Make Green Energy Through Wind Turbine For Domestic Use | Special Story | T News Energy
  • Industry Size, CAGR Status, Scope and Challenges to 2028 Energy
  • Energy Industry Veteran Carl Almeter Joins ikeGPS as Vice President of Utility Sales Energy
February 2023
MTWTFSS
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728 
« Jan    
last celebrity gossip
Gossip Stone - celebrity life and gossip

Recent Posts

  • Secretary Blinken’s Call with Moroccan Foreign Minister BouritaFebruary 3, 2023
  • 10 New Cars and Remastered Originals for True Admirers of Classic DesignFebruary 3, 2023
  • Joint Statement on Marking Two Years Since the Military Coup in MyanmarFebruary 2, 2023
  • War Day 342: war diaries w/Former Advisor to Ukraine President, Intel Officer @arestovych & #FeyginFebruary 2, 2023
  • Secretary Antony J. Blinken At a Press AvailabilityFebruary 2, 2023
how to promote press release
VUGA Enterprises - media group PR & Marketing
  • Date ‘Til You Drop: Couple Chases Speed-Dating Records Lifestyle
  • Sellers in PANIC MODE. Rushing to List Homes. (2022 Housing Crash Inevitable) Real Estate
  • Hereafter Farms is Building America’s Largest Sustainable Eco Community on 460 Acres in Georgia Lifestyle
  • Owner Suggests Tesla Model 3 Is Not Worth The Money, Regrets Purchase Aviation
  • Michael Jordan’s Lifestyle & Net Worth 2022 Lifestyle
  • Stirling CBD Releases Its Most Potent Delta 9 Gummies Yet Business
  • David Kramer | Yahoo! Interview Real Estate
  • All Clean Power Washing Is The Premier Provider Of Pressure Washing Services In Lorton, VA Real Estate
aerospace company
stem cell clinic in kiev
medical spa in miami
Fashion TV free

Copyright © 2023 195News.

| Part of VUGA Media Group | Fair Use | Terms of Use | Get Published