Changes Are on the Way for The Public Service Commission

TALLAHASSEE, FL. (WTXL) - The Florida House of Representatives unanimously approved a Bill Wednesday that would make a series of changes dealing with the Florida Public Service Commission.

The Bill includes limiting commissioners to three consecutive terms and trying to protect utility customers from rate increases based on changes in billing cycles.The Bill also includes term limits and requires ethics training for commissioners. It would prevent utilities from charging customers higher rates because of increased electrical usage related to extended billing cycles. That stems, at least in part, from a controversy that emerged last summer when Duke Energy Florida's redesign of meter-reading routes led to longer billing cycles. Many customers received higher monthly bills.

State Representative Amanda Murphy says, "This Bill will bring some accountability and transparency to a group that has lost the faith and confidence of the people that it serves."

The Public Service Commission has become a heavily debated political issue in recent years.