CLEARWATER, Fla. – Earlier than the Metropolis of Clearwater determined to greenlight the appraisal course of to create a city-owned electrical utility firm, residents voiced their assist whereas Duke Vitality staff touted how a lot they did for the group after final 12 months’s hurricanes.
What we all know:
Clearwater began researching the concept of dropping Duke Vitality final 12 months after residents anxious about rising charges.
The examine, by NewGen Methods and Options, claims a city-owned electrical utility firm might save the common resident $17 a month in its first 12 months alone.
Nonetheless, it did observe there might be important authorized and different challenges.
To get its personal utilities, town must purchase Duke Vitality’s system, which the corporate says would value about $1.1 billion, and Duke Vitality mentioned its gear will not be on the market.
They produced their very own examine in Might.
Meaning town must seize it by way of eminent area, which might contain a prolonged and costly authorized course of.
What they’re saying:
Some say that is price it, whereas staff say they’re an essential a part of the group.
“They are saying it’s going to take tax {dollars}, but it surely will not,” one resident mentioned. “You’ll get the identical emergency response.”
Whereas one Duke Vitality worker responded, “we have already got initiatives underground, in entrance of metropolis corridor and several other different areas which might be a part of a storm safety plan.”
The opposite facet:
The State President of Duke Vitality Florida confirmed as much as the assembly to listen to the examine’s dialogue.
Melissa Seixas mentioned, “it speaks for itself that the consultants state in there, there is not any assure for value financial savings.”
“We actually encourage the mayor and others to sit down down and speak with us and negotiate with us like we’ve in years previous,” she added. “We will arrive on the similar conclusions with out the cash, time, and vitality.”
What’s subsequent:
Metropolis council will transfer ahead with the appraisal.
They mentioned they’re very appreciative to Duke Vitality and their workers for what they do for the group and what they did in the course of the storms.
They need them to know they’re simply going to the subsequent step.
That doesn’t imply they’re utterly transferring towards a city-owned electrical utility firm.
The Supply: FOX 13 gathered this info from the Metropolis of Clearwater metropolis council assembly and prior reporting.
