Overview
- The City Council voted Thursday to authorize up to $590,000 for an eight- to nine-month feasibility study by consultant Next Gen to examine creating a municipal electric utility.
- The study will collect data on capital costs to buy or build distribution assets, the logistics of transferring service, and projected customer savings to inform any decision about the franchise.
- Duke Energy remains St. Petersburg’s provider under the existing 30-year franchise and urged renewal, saying a contract extension would deliver immediate benefits and continued reliable service.
- City leaders and resident groups pushed for the review because of rising electricity bills and claims that municipal utilities in other Florida cities have delivered lower rates.
- Major questions remain about the price to acquire regional assets, the exact timeline to transition service, and how much rates would fall for households, with final findings expected when the study concludes.