Latest news with #BradleyMarshall
Forbes
16-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Florida Power & Light's Proposed Rate Hike May Raise Electricity Bills
When Florida Power & Light requested a nearly $9 billion rate increase over four years, it landed with a thud—threatening to add even more financial strain to already burdened Florida households, many of whom have seen bills rise by 20% in the last five years. However, the utility's PR machine has kicked into high gear to explain its position: it must fund grid modernization, clean energy expansion, and infrastructure upgrades. There's no question FP&L must modernize its grid and expand its clean energy portfolio. But affordability matters. Regulators must find a middle ground—approving some rate increases while capping excessive profits, mandating transparency, and requiring support for vulnerable customers. 'There's no reason we should have the highest return on equity in the nation. It's a tax increase on Floridians because you don't have a choice but to pay your electric bill. We should not have some of the highest electricity bills in the nation,' because consumers run their air conditioners much of the year, says Bradley Marshall, senior attorney with Earthjustice, in a virtual conversation. In February, FP&L—the wholly owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy—asked the Florida Public Service Commission to grant it a $8.961 billion rate hike from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2029. A household using the average 1,200 kilowatt-hours per month would see its monthly bill rise, initially, by $10 in 2026—a number that would continue growing through 2029. Zane Smith, senior director for the AARP in Florida, told me that escalating energy bills force seniors into a cruel dilemma: choosing between running their air conditioners and filling prescriptions or buying groceries. Many are on a fixed income, unable to pay higher energy bills—something that could lead to heat-related illnesses or even death. Part of the problem is that the utility seeks an 11.9% return on equity, notably higher than the national industry average of 9.6%. The company argues that this ensures financial stability and attracts investors. However, Florida residents have already seen their electric bills rise by 20% over the last five years. Indeed, some analysts argue that FP&L's rate request is more about improving shareholder value than servicing the state's electricity customers. 'This massive rate increase is not because of investments in renewable energy, but because of FP&L's continued need to increase the return on equity for their shareholders,' says Brooke Ward, senior Florida organizer for Food and Water Watch, in a chat. 'It's also because hundreds of millions of dollars are invested in fossil fuels. When we look at our moderate-income families in urban areas, a quarter of those currently have an energy burden of 12% or more, which means they are in energy poverty.' That's why the Florida Public Service Commission is in the eye of the storm. The commission, though, has a track record of greenlighting steep rate hikes, raising concerns about the public's interest. Consider: the Florida Supreme Court previously questioned the commission's approval of a $4.8 billion rate increase in 2021, suggesting that regulatory oversight might be lacking. Specifically, Florida Supreme Court Justice Carlos Muñiz lambasted the public service commission, saying it lacked transparency and didn't adequately justify why it granted the last hike—after the commission's staff advised against it. 'The PSC is a black box,' he told the Florida press. 'It's supposed to be the opposite of a black box.' 'The Florida Public Service Commission is really captive to the utilities,' which are significant participants in the state's political arena, making huge donations to elected officials and sponsoring charitable events, adds Susan Glickman, vice president of policy with the Clio Institute, in a talk with me. Utilities must prioritize investing in critical projects that benefit the public. FP&L must deliver reliable, affordable electricity—even as it faces mounting challenges from climate extremes and population growth. That's where grid modernization comes in: a smart grid can reroute power during congestion and prevent outages before they happen. To that end, the utility claims its distribution reliability is 59% better than the national average. It also stated that its investments in technology enabled it to prevent 2.7 million customer outages in 2024, when Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton struck. This track record has been achieved as it has added 275,000 customers since 2021 and is set to add 335,000 more through 2029. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, natural gas accounts for 73% of the utility generation mix, nuclear for 11%, and solar for 14%. 'First, customers don't open up an ROE; they open up an electricity bill, which is expected to remain well below the national average even with the proposed increase. Ultimately, ROE is about our ability to obtain capital to continue making smart investments on behalf of customers,'Andrew Sutton, spokesperson for FP&L, told me. 'Planning for the future and investing in the grid now actually reduces cost over time for everyone,' FP&L's CEO Armando Pimentel, added, on FP&Ls site. FP&L's rate request is a tricky balancing act—at the intersection of grid modernization, shareholder returns, and customers' bills. It is known for being reliable, but it still heavily depends on fossil fuels. The utility's nearly $9 billion rate hike request is, therefore, a tough sell—especially with such a high return on equity. While investment and upgrades are necessary, the company shoots for the moon. Regulators should pare back the return, require cost transparency, and ensure low-income protection. The overarching goal is to support a resilient grid without overburdening Floridians.
Sunday World
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Rising Irish star on the heartache that inspired the songs behind his sudden rise
The Irish singer says he manifested his success in the music biz, but he's had his challenges along the way so far. Bradley Marshall's career took off after posting music on TikTok during Covid Bradley Marshall's career took off after posting music on TikTok during Covid He's on his way to becoming Ireland's next big pop star, but Bradley Marshall is taking it all in his stride. The 24-year-old singer and songwriter from Dublin's Tallaght today reveals the personal challenges and heartaches that keep him grounded. Bradley tells Magazine+ that he was bullied at school, had his heart broken in relationships and has been coping with the trauma of psoriasis skin disease. His career took off after he started posting music on TikTok during Covid. And he wrote his debut single, Lost, during lockdown. Bradley Marshall on stage Since then, Marshall has gone from strength to strength. His 2023 hit, Perfect For Me, became a global phenomenon, was featured as the soundtrack to a scene on Love Island and is a popular wedding song earning him a dedicated fanbase along the way. His songs often draw from his own experiences, tackling themes of love, loss, and self-discovery with unflinching honesty. Looking back on his early life, Bradley says that his reputation as a singer made him popular with girls at school, which in turn led to him being taunted by his male contemporaries. 'I had a great childhood, great friends… kicking football on the road for six or seven hours a day,' Bradley recalls as he chats by Zoom from his home in Tallaght. 'But growing up singing wasn't easy, to be honest, because around this area being a man and singing wasn't the normal thing. If you sang as a male here you were gay… that's the type of stuff I used to get thrown at me a lot in the school corridor. 'I used to sing in the school yard and girls would chase me around the yard to sing songs. Looking back now I think the reaction of the guys was jealousy.' Bradley Marshall's career took off after posting music on TikTok during Covid Before becoming a full-time singer, Bradley studied business management in college. 'I was also an electrician when I left school,' he says. 'And I worked in a bookies, a cinema, a pet shop… I had so many jobs, but always in the back of my mind was the music. You need all those experiences to be able to tap into songs.' Speaking about dealing with psoriasis he says: 'Growing up and having psoriasis affected my mental health because of my appearance. 'It's a really hard condition to get by with. When I was in college at 18 or 19 years old it was all over my hands. I used to wear gloves to college, so it was quite a tough time for me. 'But I'm starting to embrace it now. I guess it's who I am, it's just a part of me. I'm also letting other people know who have psoriasis or eczema that it's OK to be yourself. Showing your vulnerability is really important.' Marshall says he has 'manifested' his success as a recording artist and singer. 'It's down to hard work and believing in yourself, but also putting it out to the universe,' he explains. 'I always believed in myself and getting signed last year [by Capitol Records] was always something that I believed would happen. Having a positive mindset all the time when negative things are happening is so important. 'But success to me is touching people's lives with your songs. I got a message off a girl not too long ago about my song called You'll Be Okay. A friend of mine tried to commit suicide a few years ago and I wrote a song to them saying basically, 'you'll be okay.' 'The person told me that they were in a car, they really wanted to drive into a wall and then they heard the song on the radio and that stopped them from doing it. People talk about numbers in terms of your success, but if you can touch someone's heart and change their perspective on life that's success to me, that's what I really try for.' His songs of love and loss also come from a personal place. Has he had his heart broken? 'Yeah, absolutely I have,' Bradley admits. 'I think that's the story of my life to be honest, but maybe I'll fall in love soon and the happy songs will start coming out.'
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Consumer rights activists file appeals to Florida State Supreme Court over TECO price hikes
The Brief Consumer rights activists have filed appeals to the Florida Supreme Court over TECO raising the base rates of monthly bills. The rises mean monthly bills going from around $9 to about $13 in base rate for TECO's 844,000 customers over three years, starting January 2025. TECO says this is necessary to help them recoup damages and the increased need for workers while responding to the hurricanes in 2024. TAMPA, Fla. - Consumer rights activists have filed an appeal to the Florida Supreme Court for the approval of TECO base rate hikes. On Monday, Florida Rising and The League of United Latin American Citizens filed the appeal through Earthjustice, a non-profit environmental law firm. In December, the Public Service Commission approved monthly $9 to $13 base rate increases for TECO's 844,000 customers over three years, starting in January 2025. The backstory The three-year plan would allow TECO to collect $281 million for power plant improvements and additional solar facilities. TECO said those projects would save customers money in the long run. PREVIOUS: TECO rate increase approved Last month, the Public Service Commission (PSC) also gave TECO the green light to temporarily raise rates to make up for the cost of last year's destructive hurricane season. TECO is seeking $463.6 million to pay for damages, and the 9,500 out-of-state line workers brought in to help restore power to most customers within seven days of the storms. The PSC allowed TECO to collect those funds over 18 months, raising monthly bills by an estimated $20. What they're saying Bradley Marshall, Senior Attorney at Earthjustice, filed an appeal against the base rate increase. "Unfortunately, TECO's bills just keep going up, and we want to do what we can within the law and the facts that we presented to try to minimize these bill impacts," Marshall said. PREVIOUS: State approves TECO, Duke rate hikes to recoup $1.55B in hurricane costs The Florida Supreme Court is required to hear their case. The State of Florida Office of Public Counsel, a government organization that represents all utility customers, has also taken action against the base rate hike. What's next On February 18, the office filed a Motion for the Public Service Commission to reconsider the rate hike. A spokesperson said the office has also filed a Notice of Attempt to Appeal the rate hike. According to the Motion to Reconsider, the rate approved by the PSC gives TECO an expected return on equity of 10.5%, even though the PSC staff recommended that commissioners approve a 10.3 return on equity. Documents state the difference is millions of dollars more for the power company. The PSC has not yet responded to the Motion to Reconsider. On Tuesday afternoon, multiple power companies, including TECO, will appear before the Florida Senate to discuss the Storm Protection Plan and the Storm Cost Recovery Clause, which decides how storm costs are calculated. The Public Service Commission and the State of Florida Office of Public Counsel are also expected to speak. The Source FOX 13's Jennifer Kveglis collected the information in this story. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
