Trystan Casey
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Inc., is the largest power utility company in Florida. FPL has a monopoly on electricity supply in the state, with political and economic influence that makes it one of the biggest power players in Florida. While there are other utility companies in the state, FPL is the principal provider, serving approximately 5 million customers and 11-12 million people. FPL has been ranked as one of the nation's most reliable electric power utilities and has invested in modernizing its infrastructure to reduce emissions. However, the company has also faced criticism for its lobbying activities and opposition to solar energy.
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What You'll Learn
FPL is a regulated monopoly
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) is the largest power utility in Florida, serving approximately 5 million customers and 11-12 million people in the state. It is a rate-regulated electric utility that generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric energy.
FPL's parent company, NextEra Energy, is a Florida-based, investor-owned utility traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: NEE). NextEra is a clean energy company recognized for its efforts in sustainability, ethics, and diversity. It has been ranked highly by Fortune as one of the "World's Most Admired Companies."
FPL's position as a regulated monopoly has come under scrutiny due to its lobbying activities and political influence. The company has been known to lobby against solar energy and hinder individual and business installations of rooftop solar panels. FPL is also one of Florida's biggest spenders on political campaigns and lobbying, often benefiting from its association with the dominant Republican party in the state.
While FPL is the dominant electric power provider in Florida, customers do have the option to go off the grid and generate their own electricity through solar power. However, this option can be expensive and may not always provide sufficient capacity to completely go off the grid. Additionally, FPL still maintains the "infrastructure" that these off-grid customers rely on as a backup.
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FPL is Florida's largest utility company
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) is Florida's largest utility company. It is a Juno Beach-based subsidiary of NextEra Energy Inc. (formerly FPL Group, Inc.), a clean energy company recognised for its efforts in sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethics and compliance, and diversity. FPL is also the largest power utility in the United States, serving approximately 5.8 million accounts or more than 11 million people in Florida.
FPL is a rate-regulated electric utility that generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric energy. It operates one of the cleanest power generation fleets in the U.S. and has been recognised as the nation's most reliable electric power utility for several years. In 2022, FPL won the ReliabilityOne® National Reliability Award for the seventh time in eight years. The company was also recognised in 2022 as one of the most trusted U.S. electric utilities by Escalent for the ninth consecutive year.
FPL has a long history in Florida, dating back to the early days of power generation in the state. In 1924-1925, American Power & Light (APL) purchased power stations in Florida and connected them to provide a more consistent power network. In December 1925, APL spun off its Florida properties into a new subsidiary, FPL, to replace the Miami Beach Electric Company. By early 1927, FPL had 115,000 customers.
Over the years, FPL has expanded its reach beyond Florida and diversified its business. In 1990, FPL acquired a majority stake in a Georgia Power generation facility, and in the following years, it expanded into the southern and eastern United States. FPL has also ventured into telecommunications with its subsidiary FPL FiberNet. In 2011, FPL built the world's first hybrid solar plant, combining solar thermal collectors with combined cycle natural gas generation. The company has also invested in modernising its power generation infrastructure, resulting in reduced emissions and fuel costs.
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FPL's political influence in Florida
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), the principal subsidiary of NextEra Energy Inc., is the largest power utility in Florida. It is a regulated monopoly and one of the state's biggest spenders on political campaigns and lobbying.
FPL has been accused of using "dark money" to support political candidates and influence elections. In the 2018 state Senate race, FPL executives donated more than $200,000 to support Charles Goston's last-minute campaign through a group called Broken Promises, keeping their identities hidden. FPL has also funded "ghost" candidate spoiler campaigns intended to confuse voters and dilute votes for Democratic candidates.
The company has been known to lobby against solar energy and hinder rooftop solar panel installations. In 2018, FPL gave $926,000 to the Florida Chamber of Commerce's political action committees. In total, FPL made $8 million in campaign contributions during the 2018 election cycle, with campaign donations particularly swelling in the 2014 and 2016 election cycles. During those two cycles, FPL made $22.9 million in political donations and joined other utilities in the state to support constitutional Amendment 1, which purported to advocate for solar use.
FPL's political influence also extends to the media. In 2020, emails revealed that FPL consultant Brian Burgess suggested that an FPL consultant secretly fund the purchase of Florida's largest newspaper chain, operated by the USA TODAY Network. The plan was to "put content in all these releases and nobody needs to know who’s actually pulling the strings."
FPL's spending on lobbying and campaign contributions has raised concerns among critics, who argue that the company's actions could ultimately harm customers and undermine Florida's democratic institutions.
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FPL's customer base and reach
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) is the largest power utility in Florida, serving approximately 5 million customers and 11 million people in the state. It is a Juno Beach, Florida-based power utility company that generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric energy. FPL is a regulated monopoly and is one of the state's biggest spenders on political campaigns and lobbying.
FPL's customer base has grown steadily over the years. By 1927, just two years after its establishment, FPL had 115,000 customers. The company continued to expand its customer base and generating power, and in 1950, it became independently listed on the New York Stock Exchange. FPL's customer base reached 4 million in 2002. By 2023, the company provided electrical power to approximately 5.9 million accounts, totaling approximately 12 million people.
FPL has expanded beyond Florida as well. In 1990, FPL began its expansion beyond the state, purchasing a majority stake in a Georgia Power generation facility. Over the next two decades, it expanded into the southern and eastern United States, creating a new holding group, FPL Energy, to manage its efforts in electricity markets outside of FPL's service area. In 2002, it acquired a controlling stake in New Hampshire's Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant, and in 2005, it acquired Texas-based Gexa Energy.
FPL offers its customers multiple channels to connect with its customer support team. Customers can reach FPL's customer service through telephone, online chat, email, and social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
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FPL's efforts to hinder solar energy
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) is the largest power utility in Florida, serving approximately 5 million customers and 11 million people in the state. It is a regulated monopoly and one of the biggest spenders on political campaigns and lobbying in Florida.
FPL has been criticized for its efforts to hinder solar energy and rooftop solar panel installations. The company has lobbied against solar energy, despite recognizing solar energy as one of the most cost-effective forms of new power generation. FPL has also been accused of trying to prevent individuals and businesses from installing rooftop solar panels.
In 2011, FPL built the world's first hybrid solar plant in Martin County, Florida, with a generation capacity of 75 megawatts. However, the plant was decommissioned in 2023. FPL has also introduced solar programs like SolarTogether, which aims to increase access to solar energy and make it more affordable for Floridians. The program allows participants to receive bill credits based on the solar energy produced through their subscription.
FPL has made efforts to modernize its power generation infrastructure, resulting in reduced emissions, fuel costs, and oil usage. By 2013, the company's oil usage had decreased to less than 1 million barrels annually. FPL has set a "Real Zero" goal to eliminate carbon emissions in Florida, which includes a significant expansion of solar energy, powered by hundreds of millions of solar panels.
Despite these efforts, FPL's history of lobbying against solar energy and hindering individual and business solar panel installations has drawn criticism. The company's actions reflect a conflicting approach to embracing renewable energy sources, particularly solar energy, while also attempting to maintain its monopoly and control over power generation and distribution in Florida.
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Frequently asked questions
FPL, or Florida Power & Light Company, is not the only electric company in Florida. However, it is the largest power utility in the state, serving approximately 5.8 million accounts or more than 11 million people.
FPL is a regulated monopoly and is one of the state's biggest spenders on political campaigns and lobbying. The company has been known to lobby against solar energy and has influenced state politics by funding "ghost" candidate campaigns to confuse voters and dilute votes for Democratic candidates.
Other than FPL, Florida has three other large utilities: Duke Energy, TECO Energy, and Gulf Power (which merged with FPL in 2021).
While FPL is the dominant power utility in Florida, customers do have the option to go off the grid and generate their own electricity. However, this is typically not a cheaper alternative, as solar panels and battery systems can be expensive.
