TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Lawyers representing Tampa Electric and utility customers sparred Monday during the opening of a weeklong hearing before state regulators on TECO’s three-year rate hike request.
Lawyers with the Office of Public Counsel during cross examination of TECO President and CEO Archie Collins’ attempted to portray the $445.8 million rate hike request as a money grab by the utility’s Canadian parent company, Emera.
While acknowledging concerns about how some low-income customers could be affected, Collins said the request is needed to maintain grid reliability and insulate customers against fuel costs through the construction of more solar plants.
“We stand by our record,” Collins said. “Over the past decade, on an inflation-adjusted basis, residential rates really have not changed for Tampa Electric customers.”
