TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Florida’s Public Service Commission said Tuesday it won’t dismiss a petition from Duke Energy for a new large data center rate, despite some commissioners raising concerns that the utility’s plan doesn’t comply with a new state law.
The PSC voted 4-1 to deny a motion from consumer advocates to dismiss Duke Energy’s petition, allowing it to progress to an evidentiary hearing next month. Tuesday’s hearing marks the first time the PSC has had to interpret new data center regulations signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, and comes amid growing public concern statewide over data centers’ electricity use.
Commissioner Mike La Rosa, who voted to dismiss the petition, said he thought there were “areas of concern” related to its compliance with state law.
“I don’t believe that the overall customer protections are there the way the Legislature drafted it and the way current statute reads,” La Rosa said.
