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State of Florida
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Public Service Commission Capital Circle Office Center ● 2540 Shumard
Oak Boulevard -M-E-M-O-R-A-N-D-U-M- |
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DATE: |
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TO: |
Office of Commission Clerk (Teitzman) |
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FROM: |
Division of Economics (P. Kelley) Office of the General
Counsel (Farooqi) |
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RE: |
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AGENDA: |
05/05/26 – Regular Agenda – Tariff Suspension – Participation is at the discretion of the Commission |
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COMMISSIONERS ASSIGNED: |
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PREHEARING OFFICER: |
Administrative |
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SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: |
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On April 1, 2026, Tampa Electric Company (TECO) filed a petition for approval of revisions to its underground residential distribution (URD) tariffs and associated charges. These tariffs represent the additional costs, if any, TECO incurs to provide underground service in place of overhead service in new residential subdivisions. The petition was filed pursuant to Rule 25-6.078(3), Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), which states, in part, “If the cost differential as calculated in Form PSC 1031 (08/20) varies from the Commission-approved differential by plus or minus 10 percent or more, the utility shall file a written policy and supporting data and analyses as prescribed in subsections (1), (4) and (5) of this rule on or before April 1 of the following year.”
The ten percent threshold outlined by the rule has not been met or exceeded since TECO’s last URD tariff filing, which was ruled upon in Order No. PSC-2023-0211-TRF-EI.[1] Because it has been three years since TECO last updated its URD tariff, TECO filed updated URD tariff sheets in the subject docket. TECO proposes that the URD surcharge remain at $0.00 per lot, as discussed in paragraphs 9 and 14 of the petition. TECO also proposes modifications to several other charges and non-refundable deposits for underground service, as shown in Exhibit B to the petition.
The 60-day statutory deadline for the Commission to suspend the TECO’s charges is June 1, 2026. This recommendation addresses the suspension of the Utility’s requested charges. The Commission has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to Sections 366.03, 366.04, 366.05, and 366.06, Florida Statutes (F.S.).
Issue 1:
Should TECO's proposed underground residential distribution tariffs be suspended?
Recommendation:
Yes. The proposed tariffs should 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 tariff proposals. (P. Kelley)
Staff Analysis:
Pursuant to Section 366.06(3), F.S., the Commission may withhold consent to the operation of all or any portion of a new rate schedule, delivering to the utility requesting such a change a reason or written statement of good cause for doing so within 60 days. If the Commission does not withhold consent, the proposed tariff may go into effect after 60 days.
Staff recommends that the proposed tariffs 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 tariff proposals.
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:
This docket should remain open pending the Commission’s decision on the proposed tariffs. (Farooqi)
Staff Analysis:
This docket should remain open pending the Commission’s decision on the proposed tariffs.
[1] Order
No. PSC-2023-0211-TRF-EI, issues July 25, 2023, Docket No. 20230042-EI, In re: Petition for approval of revised
underground residential distribution tariff, by Tampa Electric Company.