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FPL Welcomes 35,000 New Customers from the City of Vero Beach Electric System

Dec. 19, 2018
FPL's purchase of the City of Vero Beach's electric system completed

Florida Power & Light Co. has welcomed approximately 35,000 new customers as it completed the purchase of the City of Vero Beach's electric utility.

"We are honored that the community has chosen to become part of the FPL family, and I am thrilled to welcome the City of Vero Beach electric system customers and employees," said Eric Silagy, president and CEO of FPL. "After nearly a decade of work together, we were able to overcome every obstacle and help the city achieve its goal of reducing electricity costs. We will work hard each and every day to provide our new customers with affordable, reliable and clean energy – just as we do for all of the 5 million customers we serve across half of Florida."

In 2009, the City of Vero Beach asked FPL to explore a potential purchase of its electric system with the goal of lowering rates for its customers. FPL and the city worked together over the years that followed to develop a solution that would bring FPL's lower rates, high reliability and clean energy to the City's electric system customers without negatively impacting FPL's existing customers.

Last fall, the Vero Beach City Council approved a $185 million agreement that allows the City to exit its contractual obligations, pay off its existing debt and receive a cash payment, while ensuring that FPL's existing customers also benefit. The acquisition is expected to save approximately $130 million for all FPL customers over time.

"After years of waiting for the stars to align, electing the right leaders and refusing to accept 'no' for an answer, we have reached an agreement that will be in the best interest of all Indian River County residents," said Indian River County Commissioner Tim Zorc. "Special thanks to Florida Power & Light for being first-rate professionals throughout this very long process."

While the prices of almost all products and services have risen in recent years, FPL's typical 1,000-kWh residential customer bill has remained low – about 20 percent lower than the City of Vero Beach, and about 30 percent lower than the national average. In fact, FPL's typical bill is even lower today than it was a decade ago.

Also, FPL provides award-winning customer service and reliability. In addition, FPL is recognized as one of the cleanest electric utilities in the country with a carbon emissions rate approximately 30 percent cleaner than the industry average. Two of the 14 solar power plants FPL currently operates in Florida are located in Indian River County: the FPL Indian River Solar Energy Center and the FPL Blue Cypress Solar Energy Center.

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