ST. PETERSBURG -- One of the Democrats running for governor takes aim at a big utility, after media reports that it was supporting consultants who ran "ghost candidates" to maintain Republican control in the state Senate.
Charlie Crist, who served a term as governor as a Republican and is currently a congressman from St. Petersburg, accuses FPL of stealthily writing a bill introduced in the Legislature that would cut the amount that utilities are required to pay people with rooftop solar panels on their houses, when they generate excess energy. Crist quoted a story from the Miami Herald, claimed the utility also cut a check to the bill's sponsor. Crist described this as part of a "corrupt pay to play system" in Tallahassee. He insists that without the "net metering" payments, middle class families would not be able to afford solar power.
Crist also referenced recent approvals of rate hikes and fuel adjustments by Florida utilities, which will mean higher power costs in 2022. Crist insisted that if sent back to the governor's mansion, he would veto any effort by FPL
Crist also referenced recent reports by the Orlando Sentinel and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that tied FPL executives to a consultant scheme to support "ghost candidates" to siphon away votes from Democrats and maintain Republican control of the state Senate. FPL has denied any involvement in the "ghost candidate" scheme.
He was joined by State Representative Anna Eskamani of Orlando, who called on other Democrats to find ways to raise campaign funds without turning to the state's investor-owned utilities.
FPL is the largest electric utility in Florida and serves most of the state south of the I-4 corridor, as well as most of the east coast and parts of northeast Florida.
Photo: Canva