Public Service Commission

Author: Mike Kehoe

In my opinion, the Republicans are "shooting themselves in the foot" pertaining to the representation of the voting citizens of Florida. I am also quite sure that Charlie Crist and Congressman Meeks will use the following information negatively in their respective campaigns for the US Senate...

The Public Service Commission (PSC) mission statement is to "facilitate the efficient provision of safe and reliable utility services at fair prices" Their web-site states that they will fulfill this mission by pursuing a number of goals, three are;

• - provide open, accessible & efficient regulatory process that is fair & unbiased...
• - provide a regulatory process that results in fair & reasonable rates while offering regulated utilities an opportunity to earn a fair return on their investments..
• - provide appropriate regulatory oversight to protect consumers..

The "commission" is made up of five commissioners appointed by the Governor & confirmed by the Florida Senate to four year terms. They elect their chairman to a two year term...

History had shown that (in almost every instance) the regulated utility requested a "rate hike" and the PSC approved it..during 2009, rumors started leaking out regarding "cozy relationships" existing between PSC commissioners and "regulated utility" executives...ie;

• - in 2009, the PSC's chief lobbyist had attended a Kentucky Derby party at the home of a Florida Power & Light (FP&L) executive..
• - in 2009, it was revealed that "several" PSC aides gave private text messaging codes to another FP&L executive. The codes would allow private communication the executive and the PSC aides without public oversight or records...
• - in 2009, it was revealed that a PSC commissioner refused to remove herself from a FL&P rate case even though she had attended an event with the FP&L's top executive...

Two PSC members suddenly (summer of 2009) needed to leave and the two "openings" were filled (in October/2009) with appointee's of Governor Charlie Crist..they are David Klement and Ben Stevens..these two were instrumental in "denying" a very large rate increase requested by the electric utility companies in January/2010. Obviously, this angered the utility companies and I'm saddened to say, apparently several Republican senators.

The confirmation of these two "appointee's" by the Florida Senate still has not happened! In a senate meeting last month, Tuesday, 4/20/09, the senate abruptly adjourned the meeting when a motion was brought up on the floor to confirm the two appointee's.

Several newspaper articles have reported that Republican Senators stated that "these two" are "unqualified" because they had not worked in a "regulated industry or for the PSC"....Klement & Stevens were the only two, among the six recommended for appointment, who didn't have strong industry connections!! Does this mean that you are not qualified to "regulate" a company that you haven't worked for? This makes sense only in the world of politicians!

I have sent e-mails to several of the senators mentioned in these reports asking for clarification of their positions. In particular Senator Mike Haridopolos, JD Alexander and John Thrasher who were against the appointments and Senator Mike Fasano, who was for the appointments.

It seems the media is going to play this scenario as a political dispute between the Republicans and Charlie Crist because of his veto of the "school bill" and now with Crist's leaving the Republican party.

In my opinion, this scenario is going to be played, BIG TIME, as a way of showing that crist is "for the people" while the main steam republicans are for "big business"..I don't know what the real reason(s) there are for these actions by the republicans but is sure "smells" and I believe it would be in the best interest of the republican party to confront this issue "head on"..before it explodes into a major detrimental confrontation.