State of Florida		Public Service Commission Capital Circle Office Center ● 2540 Shumard Oak Boulevard Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0850 -M-E-M-O-R-A-N-D-U-M-
DATE:	October 22, 2020
TO:	Office of Commission Clerk (Teitzman)
FROM:	Division of Economics (Guffey) Office of the General Counsel (Schrader)
RE:	Docket No. 20200222-EI – Petition for approval of modifications to rate schedule FB-1, fixedbill program by Duke Energy Florida, LLC.
AGENDA:	11/03/20 – Regular Agenda – Tariff Suspension – Participation is at the Commission’s discretion
COMMISSIONERS ASSIGNED:			All Commissioners
PREHEARING OFFICER:			Administrative
CRITICAL DATES:			11/27/20 (60-Day Suspension Date)
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:			None

Case Background

On September 28, 2020, Duke Energy Florida, LLC (DEF) filed a petition for approval of modifications to its Optional FixedBill (FB-1) rate schedule and associated Tariff Sheet No. 6.391. The FB-1 rate schedule is available to residential customers and offers participating customers a predetermined electric bill for 12 months protecting customers from fluctuating electric bills resulting from weather or non-weather related impacts.

DEF is proposing revisions to Tariff Sheet No. 6.391 to allow DEF to have control of thermostats of customers taking service on the FB-1 rate schedule in addition to applicable Demand-Side Management programs through December 31, 2021. DEF explains that the goal is to test customer willingness to allow DEF to control ‘eligible’ customers’ thermostats in exchange for a $50 prepaid credit card. The proposed program is limited to 2,000 participants. The Commission has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to Sections 366.03, 366.04, 366.05, and 366.06, Florida Statutes (F.S.).

Discussion of Issues

Issue 1:

 Should DEF's proposed Optional FixedBill (FB-1) Rate Schedule and associated Tariff Sheet No. 6.391 revisions be suspended?

Recommendation: 

 Yes. Staff recommends that the Optional FixedBill (FB-1) Rate Schedule and associated Tariff Sheet No. 6.391 be suspended to allow staff sufficient time to review the petition and gather all pertinent information in order to present the Commission with an informed recommendation on the proposed tariff modifications. (Guffey)

Staff Analysis: 

 Staff recommends that the Optional FixedBill (FB-1) Rate Schedule and associated Tariff Sheet No. 6.391 be suspended to allow staff sufficient time to review the petition and gather all pertinent information in order to present the Commission with an informed recommendation on the proposed tariff modifications.

Pursuant to Section 366.06(3), F.S., the Commission may withhold consent to the operation of all or any portion of the new rate schedules, delivering to the utility requesting such a change, a reason, or written statement of a good cause for doing so within 60 days. Staff believes that the reason stated above is a good cause consistent with the requirement of Section 366.06(3), F.S.

Issue 2:

 Should this docket be closed?

Recommendation: 

 No. This docket should remain open pending the Commission decision on the proposed Optional FixedBill (FB-1) Rate Schedule and associated Tariff Sheet No. 6.391 revisions. (Schrader)

Staff Analysis: 

 This docket should remain open pending the Commission decision on the proposed Optional FixedBill (FB-1) Rate Schedule and associated Tariff Sheet No. 6.391 revisions.