FPL proposes $1.18 monthly drop for 2027 despite hurricane surcharge

Florida Power & Light has requested a reduction in its 2027 base rates that would lower the typical residential bill by $1.18 per month.

The utility announced on Friday that it is asking the state Public Service Commission to set the standard monthly charge at $141.87 for customers using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity.

This proposed figure is slightly lower than the rate established in the four-year settlement finalized in October 2025. At that time, regulators approved base-rate increases totaling $945 million for 2026 and $705 million for 2027. The Office of Public Counsel and its allies noted that cumulative increases over the four-year period could reach approximately $6.9 billion compared to previous rates.

FPL attributes the projected decrease to smart long-term investments, disciplined operations, and a modern generation fleet. The company also cites lower projected natural gas costs as a factor. Scott Bores, FPL president and CEO, said in a released statement that these efforts are helping keep 2027 bills lower than projected last year. He noted that the company is recovering the costs of hurricane response within this lower base rate.

The proposal includes a separate temporary surcharge of $3.48 per month for each 1,000 kilowatt hours of use. FPL states this fee is necessary to recover costs from Hurricane Isaias and to replenish its storm reserve.

Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin on October 9 as a Category 2 system. The storm knocked out power to roughly 84 percent of the utility's customers in northwest Florida. FPL mobilized about 17,000 workers who restored service within four days where possible. The company claims its investments in smart-grid technology avoided approximately 138,000 outages. It also reported that underground neighborhood power lines performed 14 times better than overhead lines and that its forensic investigation found no single hardened pole failed during the storm.

If the commission approves the request, the Isaias recovery charge would apply to monthly bills from January through December 2027. FPL serves nearly 6.13 million homes and businesses across 41 counties, representing about 12 million people.