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Overview and Key Facts
The work of the Florida Public Service Commission is a balancing act.
The Commission must balance the needs of a utility and its shareholders
with the needs of consumers. Traditionally, the Commission achieved this
goal by establishing exclusive utility service territories, regulating
the rates and profits of a utility, and placing an affirmative obligation
on the utility to provide service to all who requested it. For electric
and water customers in the state, many of the Commission's traditional
methods for achieving the balance continue today. Legislative action during
the 1995 session to open up the local telephone market to increased
competition, however, calls for the Commission to facilitate entry of new
firms into the local telephone market, while at the same time ensuring that
neither the new entrant nor the incumbent local exchange company is unfairly
advantaged or disadvantaged. Section 364.01(4), F.S., calls for the
Commission to exercise its jurisdiction to encourage and promote competition.
The Commission's role in the increasingly competitive telephone industry remains
one of balance.
The Florida Public Service Commission is committed to making sure
that Florida's consumers receive some of their most essential services
-- electric, natural gas, telephone, water, and wastewater -- in a safe,
affordable, and reliable manner. In doing so, the PSC exercises
regulatory authority over utilities in one or more of three key areas:
rate base/economic regulation; competitive market oversight; and monitoring
of safety, reliability, and service issues.
During 2007, the PSC regulated five investor-owned electric companies,
seven investor-owned natural gas utilities, and more than 160 investor-owned
water and/or wastewater utilities. The PSC also has regulatory authority over
one rate-base-regulated telephone company and competitive market oversight for
more than 1,250 telecommunications companies in the state of Florida.The number of certificated telecommunications companies or registered interexchange companies as of December 2007 were broken down as follows:
- 10 incumbent local exchange companies (ILECs)
- 370 competitive local exchange companies (CLECs)
- 576 interexchange companies (IXCs)
- 233 pay telephone service companies (PATs)
- 35 alternative access vendors (AAVs)
- 27 shared tenant service providers (STS)
While the PSC does not regulate publicly owned, municipal or cooperative
utilities, it does have jurisdiction, with regard to rate structure, territorial
boundaries, bulk power supply operations and planning, over 34 municipally owned
electric systems and 18 rural electric cooperatives. The PSC also has jurisdiction,
with regard to territorial boundaries and safety, over 27 municipally owned natural
gas utilities, and exercises safety authority over all electric and natural gas
systems operating in the state. For information on services the PSC does and does not regulate, see our brochure entitled When to Call the PSC.
Whenever a jurisdictional rate-base-regulated gas, electric, telephone, water
or wastewater company wants to change its rates, it must receive permission from
the PSC. The PSC then investigates its request and sets new rate levels if the
request is valid. The investigation is extensive, with many PSC staff members
helping the Commission assess the company's request. The Public Service Commission
has the responsibility to set rates that are fair, just and reasonable. It is also
required to set rates to allow utility investors an opportunity to earn a reasonable
return on their investment.
The Public Service Commission consists of five members selected for their
knowledge and experience in one or more fields substantially related to the duties
and functions of the Commission. These fields include economics, accounting,
engineering, finance, natural resource conservation, energy, public affairs,
and law.
The Chairman is the chief administrative officer of the Commission,
presiding at all hearings and conferences when present, setting Commission
hearings, and performing those duties prescribed by law. In the Chairman's
absence, the senior member of the Commission panel presides. The Chairman is
elected by the Commission pursuant to law.
The Governor appoints a Commissioner from nominees selected by the Public
Service Commission Nominating Council. Commissioners must also be confirmed
by the Florida Senate. Prior to 1979, three Commissioners were elected in a
statewide election. The 1978 Legislature changed the Commission to a five-member
appointed board.
As part of its investigation in rate cases, the PSC often holds a customer
hearing within the utility's service area, so that the Commissioners can hear
from the public. Customers may comment or ask questions on the proposed rates
or make any other statements relating to the utility's operations. The Public
Counsel, who is appointed by the Florida Legislature, represents customers at
rate case hearings.
Following customer hearings, technical hearings similar to courtroom
proceedings are held in which evidence is presented by expert witnesses
in support of each viewpoint represented. Witnesses are cross-examined
by the utility, intervenors, staff, and the Public Counsel's Office. This
information is utilized by the Commission when it evaluates company requests.
The utility is required to justify all of its expenses for the operations
of the utility. An expense that the Commission determines to be improper,
imprudent, or unnecessary is disallowed and is excluded from the amount the
utility is allowed to collect from customers.
The Commission also looks at the amount utility stockholders have invested
in utility plant and other facilities and allows a reasonable return on the
investment necessary to provide good service.
After all evidence is presented, the Commission reviews the record that has
been developed and renders a decision. The decision it makes will determine the
level of rates the company will be permitted to collect.
Rates are calculated to generate revenues that allow a company the opportunity
to earn the amount needed for the approved expenses plus the authorized return.
However, there is no guarantee that the authorized return will be achieved.
Once the final order is issued, the Commission's decision can be appealed
to the state's appellate court system.
The Public Service Commission has staff who will assist you if you are unable
to resolve a problem with your utility company. The PSC's Division of Regulatory
Compliance and Consumer Assistance protects consumers from unjust utility practices
and helps solve problems and answer questions. If you have a problem with your
service, billing, or rates, first attempt to resolve it with the company. Then
give that company adequate time to correct the problem. If you still need help,
call the Division of Service, Safety & Consumer Assistance in Tallahassee.
The consumer assistance number is 1-800-342-3552, or fax at 1-800-511-0809. Consumer
assistance can also be obtained via E- mail at:
contact@psc.state.fl.us. Or write to the:
Florida Public Service Commission, Division of Service, Safety & Consumer Assistance,
2540 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0850. An analyst will be glad to help you.
Visit our Contact Information page for directions to the PSC and more.
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