Utilities

Florida is facing a new dilemma as the state’s supply of drinking water is beginning to dry up. The solution is to use reclaimed wastewater in situations where drinking water can be preserved.

The state Office of Public Counsel, which is designated by law to represent consumers, opposed a newly proposed Florida Power & Light rate settlement Thursday, saying it would increase FPL’s revenues by an “unconscionable” amount.

Florida Power & Light Company and 10 key stakeholder groups filed a comprehensive four-year rate settlement agreement with state regulators Wednesday that reduces FPL's original revenue request by approximately 30%.

More than $11 million in grants has been awarded to the Naples Airport, Lee County Utilities and the city of Fort Myers as part of $150 million distributed as part of the Resilient Florida Program to strengthen coastal and inland communities against the impacts of flooding and hurricanes.“The Resilient Florida Program is turning planning into action,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “These grants will equip Florida’s communities to better withstand impacts from flooding, storm surge and hurricanes, advancing on-the-ground efforts to safeguard Florida’s natural resources and infrastructure.”

A water main break on Collier Boulevard Wednesday occurred when a contractor bored through the 24-inch water main. Repair crews are on the scene. Repairs are expected to take 12 to 14 hours.

Testing of the City of Marco Island sewer collection system utilizing smoke to find and repair leaks is scheduled for Aug. 20 through Sept. 29.This test, which involves forcing smoke into the sanitary sewer lines, will check for leaks, breaks and defects in the system. The smoke is odorless, creates no fire hazard, and should not enter homes or businesses unless there is defective plumbing in need of repair.

A new utilities billing system for the Town of Fort Myers Beach means some residents may need to re-register for auto pay service.

The city of Fort Myers is admitting that it did not follow procedures, after high amounts of coliform bacteria showed up in test samples last November.Some city representatives, however, said they didn't know.

Florida Power & Light says its proposed base-rate increases will provide stability and keep customers’ electric bills below the national average.Opponents describe the multibillion-dollar proposal in terms such as “extravagant” and “excessive” and say it needs to be reduced.