JUNO BEACH, Fla. — Florida Power & Light customers' bills will likely keep going up the next few years.
FPL has submitted a four-year rate hike request for 2026 to 2029 to the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC).
WATCH: Florida Power & Light says residential growth is one factor for rate hike
According to FPL, residential growth and the need to diversify methods of energy generation are two big reasons for the increase.
"FPL has added about 275,000 customers since 2021 and expects to add about 335,000 more through the end of 2029," the proposal states.
FPL tells WPTV the increase would add up to about $9 billion over the next four years.
The company estimates that a current monthly residential bill of $134.14 for a customer in Peninsular Florida would rise to roughly $142.37 in 2026.
Jill Quast lives in Port St. Lucie and told WPTV reporter Tyler Hatfield that one reason she moved to Florida was to escape higher power bills.
“To move down to this state where we're looking for a better economy, to hear they're trying to price us out again, is really disappointing,” Quast said.
FPL claims that even with the rate adjustment, residential bills will still be lower than the national average. They say that, adjusting for inflation, a typical 1,000-kWh residential bill in January 2026 would still be 20% lower than it was in 2006.
Andrew Sutton, an FPL spokesperson, told WPTV one reason for the increase is a growing population.
Sutton said they serve around 6 million customers, adding over 275,000 since 2021, with more expected.
“We have to continue to invest in our transmission and distribution infrastructure,” Sutton said. “We have to continue to build new power plants to meet the growing demand for power.”
This comes after FPL previously announced a request for new rates after the current rate agreement ends in December 2025.
PREVIOUS: FPL seeks to increase customer rates
In a statement from FPL President and CEO Armando Pimentel, he says: "The balanced plan we submitted to the PSC would enable FPL to continue to make smart investments in the grid and in new generation resources to benefit our customers and to power our fast-growing state."
The proposal also notes that "since FPL last filed to adjust base rates in 2021, the cost of labor has increased by nearly 16%, wires and cables 30%, utility poles 49% and transformers 101% on average."
Customers are also seeing higher bills in 2025 because of a temporary surcharge, due to the 2024 hurricane season.
Zayne Smith, senior director of advocacy for AARP Florida, said many people will face tough decisions if there’s a hike.
“Whether or not they run their AC or go get a prescription filled or go to the grocery store in the hopes that they can bring home a basket of groceries for a decent price,” Smith said.
The proposal will now go through a public review process before state regulators decide on the rate increase.
