TALLAHASSEE, Florida — A state appeals court on Wednesday sided with Florida Power & Light Co. in lawsuit claiming the utility should pay customers for electricity lost during Hurricane Irma in 2017.
The details: The 3rd District Court of Appeal said FPL and other utilities are protected from such lawsuits by legislation passed in 2023 that provides the state Public Service Commission with oversight of disaster preparedness and response.
The same court had sided with customers in affirming the class action lawsuit, an action which prompted the law change late during the 2023 legislative session. But a three-judge panel said Wednesday the law change now puts the issue squarely before the PSC, and not the state judiciary.
An FPL spokesperson said the utility had no comment on the court opinion. The MSP Recovery Law Firm, which represented customers in the $10-billion lawsuit against the utility, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
