Tampa Bay Residents Demand Duke Energy Switch to Public Power

Community Calls for Public Power in St. Pete

• 🗣️ Community members in St. Petersburg are rallying with the message to "dump Duke Energy" and switch to city-managed utilities.
• 💰 Residents cite increasing electric bills, with one retired individual on social security finding her bill over $500, making it difficult to afford.

Feasibility Study for Public Power

• 💡 Organizers with the "Dump Duke" campaign are urging the city of St. Pete to initiate a feasibility study to explore options for public power.
• 📊 They point to over 30 cities in Florida that already have publicly owned power, which they claim are more affordable and reliable than Duke Energy.

City Council Action and Duke Energy's Response

• 📜 St. Pete City Council member Richie Floyd authored a resolution calling for a request for proposals (RFP) to study switching to a municipal energy provider.
• 🗓️ The RFP is expected to be released by the end of the current month.
• 📉 Duke Energy Florida stated that by March, residential customers will see a decrease of $44 per 1,000 kilowatt-hour compared to January bills.

Examples of Successful Public Power

• 🏘️ Winter Park is highlighted as a successful example of a city that switched to public power in 2005, reportedly being more reliable and affordable than Duke Energy.
• 📣 Community members vow to continue advocating for change in St. Pete.