Vote on FPL vote kicks off with new commissioner
by Dara Kam | October 27th, 2009The Public Service Commission began its 9:30 a.m. meeting on time by welcoming Commissioner David Klement, appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist and sworn in last week.
Klement is a former newspaper editorial writer with more than four decades of experience in journalism.
Klement joins the PSC in time for a crucial vote this morning on whether to postpone decisions on Florida Power & Light Co.’s proposed $1.2 billion rate hike and Progress Energy Florida’s requested $500 million rate increase.
“I just promise to do my best and to live up to the things that I said on my oath on Friday to represent the people of Florida and the companies and all the stakeholders in these matters,” Klement said after being welcomed to the PSC by his colleagues.
PSC staff recommend that the panel move ahead with the votes this year as scheduled to comply with state law that lays out a timeline by which regulators must vote.
Crist wants the panel to delay voting on the issues until after the first of the year, when his two new appointees – Klement and Panhandle accountant and bar owner/manager Benjamin “Steve” Stevens – take office.
Klement got an early jump on the post because he’s filling in for former Commissioner Katrina McMurrian, who quit earlier this month after Crist bypassed her for reappointment.
Tags: Charlie Crist, David Klement, Florida Power & Light, FPL, PSC, Public Service Commission
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October 27th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Too late. I heard Lewd Hayes, CEO FPLron showed up at Klement’s home Saturday night with a roll of cash, a barrel of wine and some prostitutes.