The Florida Public Service Commission approved the recovery of storm protection costs for Florida’s investor-owned utilities to cover expenses related to storm hardening infrastructure.

The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) on Wednesday approved the recovery of storm protection costs for the state’s investor-owned utilities, allowing Florida Power & Light (FPL), Duke Energy Florida (DEF), Tampa Electric Company (TECO), and Florida Public Utilities (FPUC) to recover those costs.

Under the decision, the utilities will recover costs incurred from implementing storm protection plans designed to strengthen transmission and distribution infrastructure against extreme weather. These costs, approved during the annual storm protection plan cost recovery clause (SPPCRC) hearing, will be reflected in customer bills from January to December 2025.

FPL, the largest utility in the state, was granted approval to recover $786.6 million. This will result in a monthly increase of $8.10 per 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) for residential customers. DEF will recover $270 million, increasing residential bills by $8.01 per 1,000 kWh, while TECO’s approved recovery of $117.6 million will add $8.38 to monthly bills. FPUC, with a recovery amount of $5.7 million, will see the highest bill impact, adding $9.97 per 1,000 kWh.

These costs include adjustments for the prior year, estimated costs for 2024, and projected costs for 2025. The SPPCRC, established by the Florida Legislature in 2019, allows the utilities to recover expenses deemed prudent by the PSC, ensuring that storm hardening initiatives are aligned with their long-term plans to protect the grid from damage.

The approval requires each utility to update its storm protection plan every three years, detailing projects and investments over a 10-year period. These plans are part of a broader strategy to ensure Florida’s electrical infrastructure can withstand hurricanes and other severe weather events.