Gov. Charlie Crist must appoint – or reappoint – two utility regulators to the Public Service Commission before the panel votes on a pending $1.3 billion Florida Power & Light Co. rate hike.

Crist said this morning he has been paying close attention to the scandal-plagued panel and will move forward with his picks, due to the Senate by the end of the week.

PSC Chairman Matthew Carter pushed back the FPL vote to Jan. 11 – ten days after his term and the term of Commissioner Katrina McMurrian ends.

“Intriguing, wasn’t it?” Crist said when asked about Carter’s decision, adding that it won’t impact the appointment process. “We still have the opportunity to make these selections. I still get to make the choice on behalf of the people of Florida.”
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Florida Power & Light Group Chief Financial Officer Armando Pimentel flew to Tallahassee on the corporate jet to appear before a panel considering the utility’s proposed $1.3 billion rate hike.

Pimentel spent the day being grilled about the Juno Beach-based company’s request and about its corporate jets. Commissioners and opponents of the rate hike demanded answers about why ratepayers should foot the bill for FPL executives, their wives and their guests to jetset to places like Martha’s Vineyard, Las Vegas and the Louisville during the Kentucky Derby.

After nearly 10 hours of testimony, attorney Jon Moyle, who represents the Florida Industrial Power Users Group, asked the CFO about traveling to Tallahassee on the corporate plane.

“Did you have a concern when you decided to take the corporate aircraft up to provide your testimony that that might send a bad signal or a bad message to fly on the corporate aircraft up here to provide testimony to support a $1.5 billion rate increase?” Moyle wanted to know.

Pimentel wasn’t flustered.

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The more nearly $2 billion hanging in the balance of two utility rate hearings is contributing to the cloud of suspicion engulfing the regulatory panel that will rule on the cases, Public Service Commission Chairman Matthew Carter said today.

Before hearing on Florida Power & Light Co.’s requested $1.3 billion rate hike resumed after lunch, Carter offered the following statement on the goings-on.

“I think it’s no accident that all these shenanigans and sideshows are happening because we have these two rate cases,” Carter told The Palm Beach Post.

The panel is also considering a $500 million rate increase proposed by Progress Energy Florida.

“Some groups benefit if the rate case is denied. Some group benefits if the rate case is granted. But we’re going to make a decision. As for me, I will not be intimidated,” Carter added.

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