UPDATE: FPL exec flies to Tally on corporate jet seeking $1.3 billion rate hike
by Dara Kam | September 17th, 2009Florida Power & Light Co. spokesman Mayco Villafana didn’t like a comparison of FPL Chief Financial Officer Armando Pimentel to the Big Three CEO’s.
Pimentel traveled to Tallahassee to support FPL’s proposed $1.3 billion rate hike on one of the utility’s corporate aircraft that have been the subject of criticism for the past two days.
Rate increase opponent Jon Moyle, who represents the Florida Industrial Power Users Group, questioned Pimentel about the impression the jet travel to the hearing seeking the increase might leave with consumers.
The situation is nothing like the CEOs of the nation’s big three auto makers who traveled to Washington D.C. to ask for a $25 billion bailout, Villafana said in an e-mail.
“This is what you need to know:
OUR customer bills are the lowest in Florida.The bill will go down further in 2010 if our proposal is approved.
Reliability is high. Clean energy. Creating thousands of jobs. And millions in taxes for local communities. How is it exactly like auto executives?” he wrote.
Villafana then pointed out that Moyle’s client is a “special interest” group that represents some of the state’s worst pollutors, including mining, phosphate and cement companies.
And FIPUG complains that FPL - which has tried to keep information like executives’ salaries private - “has ‘too much secrecy’ yet refused to identify its own members,” Villafana wrote.
Tags: Florida Power & Light, FPL, PSC, Public Service Commission
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September 17th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Honestly,this is almost sad watching FPL - at one time one of the nation’s premier utilities - become a bunch of blithering morons in front of our eyes.
These guys are now throwing stones at cement companies for “polluting”. Just awesome. The same cement companies that will have to build the new 20 billion dollar nuke plant I guess?
Christalmighty, FPL actually has the stones to tell people that a 30% rate increase will lower their bills. And disapproval of the rate increase will lead to higher bills.
The sun is cold. The Arctic is hot.
FPL should be ashamed of their actions the past decade, screwing our ratepayiers in couth Florida. Companies look at Florida and ask 3 questions: 1 - what is the tax structure? 2 - what is the cost of labor 3 - How much is your electricity?
Number 3 has been a job killer in Florida for 10 years, keeping us reliant on growth and tourism.
FPL’s day has finally come. The momentum is rolling. They can no longer just steal people’s money - like they did in the voluntary renewable program - and just get away with it. They can no longer just make a statement and get away with it.
The public is fed up. And the time is now!!
September 17th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
This is totally shameful. And inexcuseable.
September 17th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
I find it quite amusing that everyone in the State of Florida is very worried about a $12 per month increase in electricity (someone you can use less of) and are ignoring the fact that the Insurance Commisioner and our Govenor just yesterday agreed with the insurance companies that homeowner rates are too low. That will cost a hell of a lot more than $12 per month.
September 17th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
These people need to be strung up, tarred and feathered right in teh Greenbriar Dog park with the rest of the mutts.
People are getting laid off. Home values have plummeted. Its getting harder and harder to make ends meet for businesses.
And these jackasses say they NEED a 30% increase, adn have the gall ito insult us by saying that will lower our rates. They profited to the tune of hundreds of millions over the last couple years. Give some of it back, you commie pigs. The government sanctioned it and gave it to them. The governmetns should take it away.
Screw them.
September 17th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
FPL CEO must of forgot where he came from. He came from rags little money and nowstealing from the poor to get rich. With his daily hellicopter rides from his massive home with hellicopter pad. Its true i use to work for FPL they dont even want to give there employees who work for them breaks or payment extensions. They are greedy for money. They dont pay well at all unless you are contracted. The executives make all the money and dont give back enough to the community as they claim they do compared to the money that they rob from the people who make them rich the customers.
September 17th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Wow, now this is a great way to buy off the rate case
http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/juice/2009/09/fpl_crack_dealer_rate_hike.php
September 18th, 2009 at 10:14 am
fpl is one thing but i’m so tired of all the other f%$#ing hypocrites. fipug has no room to talk and the fl retail federation looking out for consumers is the biggest joke of the year. they are the ones who fought price gouging legislation and the minimum wage. all these groups care about is their own corporate profits so i’m sorry but their fight against fpl rings hollow.
September 18th, 2009 at 10:42 am
It really is pretty astounding that FPL has the nerve to spend fifty million dollars on corporate jets and just pass the costs along to us. How about making them take that fifty million out of their own profits?
Thats outrageous
September 18th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Wait a second people: Just using a private plane doesn’t automatically mean it’s costing more than other travel options. We would need more facts to make that judgment.
Get answers to these questions, then let’s analyze it:
How many people were on board? What are their total salaries, by the hour? What other meetings were scheduled that day or the next for those on board? How much time did it save them flying on their own aircraft vs. driving or flying on the airlines? What would it have cost to drive? Airlines? Charter a smaller plane? How much in hotel and meal costs were saved? What size of plane? What does it cost per hour to operate?
When you make rash judgments without having the facts you embarrass yourself.