Power for and by the people? St. Petersburg citizens launch campaign for municipal utilities

A coalition in St. Petersburg launched a petition drive Wednesday to put a municipal electric utility on the ballot, needing over 16,200 signatures, following a City Council vote to spend $590,000 studying a break from Duke Energy Florida. Organizers cite Food and Water Watch figures showing Duke's Florida rates rose 49% since December 2020, with Tampa Electric up 86%, and point to federal data showing public utilities' bills run about 14% lower on average.

Duke Energy commissioned its own analysis, from Concentric Energy Advisors, estimating the transition could cost St. Petersburg $2.7 billion to $4.1 billion, which a Duke spokesperson called proof a 'government takeover' is unaffordable. Organizers note the same firm made similar dire projections when Clearwater considered the same move, only for an independent study there to find bills would actually run 7%-18% lower — though Clearwater's council ultimately renewed its Duke franchise anyway, citing high transition costs.

No Florida city has launched a new municipal utility since Winter Park in 2005, and St. Petersburg's own feasibility study isn't due until 2027, meaning the ballot campaign is racing well ahead of the numbers it's arguing about.

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