Florida households are paying meaningfully more for electricity than they were five years ago. Across Hillsborough County, customers of Tampa Electric Company (TECO) and (in smaller service areas) Duke Energy Florida have absorbed multiple rate increases approved by the Florida Public Service Commission, on top of monthly fuel adjustments tied to natural gas costs. The question every family in Brandon, Riverview, Sun City Center, and FishHawk is asking is the same: when does it stop, and what can be done?
The honest answer involves decisions being made in Washington, D.C. — not just in Tallahassee. The federal levers that influence the cost of electricity in Florida’s 14th Congressional District are real, and they are within Congress’s authority to pull. After nine terms — eighteen years — Kathy Castor has not delivered on any of them in a way FL-14 households can see on their monthly bill.
Why Is My TECO Bill So High? The Verified Numbers
If your Tampa Electric bill feels dramatically higher than two years ago, it is — and the increase is documented, line by line, in Florida Public Service Commission decisions:
- A new base rate. In TECO’s most recent rate case, regulators approved a $184.9 million base-rate increase effective January 2025, with additional increases of $86.6 million in 2026 and $9.1 million in 2027 (less than the roughly $288 million first-year increase TECO requested, and at a 10.5% return on equity instead of the 11.5% sought). That first step alone took the benchmark 1,000-kWh residential bill from $136.44 to $145.58 a month.
- A hurricane surcharge. In February 2025 the PSC allowed TECO to recover about $464 million in storm restoration costs — mostly Hurricane Milton ($358.9 million) and Hurricane Helene ($52 million), plus Debby, leftover Idalia costs, and storm-reserve replenishment — as a surcharge of about $19.95 a month per 1,000 kWh, spread over 18 months instead of the 12 TECO requested. It runs through August 2026, so bills should drop by that amount in September 2026.
- Fuel costs. Fuel is passed through at cost and makes up roughly one-fifth of a residential bill; a fuel increase hit in mid-2025, and the January 2026 adjustment added $1.66 per 1,000 kWh as part of an $8.88 total monthly increase (about 5.3%) that brought the benchmark bill to $176.89.
Add it up and the benchmark 1,000-kWh TECO bill has climbed from $143.48 in January 2024 to $176.89 in January 2026 — roughly 23% in two years. By mid-2025, TECO’s average residential bill of $242.05 (actual summer usage, not the benchmark) was the highest of any major Florida utility. If your bill runs even higher, usage is usually the multiplier: Florida summer air conditioning can push a household well past the 1,000-kWh benchmark.
One piece of near-term relief is already scheduled: the storm surcharge ends after August 2026, taking about $19.95 per 1,000 kWh off the bill in September.
TECO and Duke Energy Florida: Why the Bill Keeps Rising
The dominant electric utility in FL-14 is Tampa Electric Company (TECO), serving most of Hillsborough County including Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, and the surrounding communities. Duke Energy Florida serves smaller portions of the county. Both are regulated monopolies overseen by the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC).
Florida utilities set rates through a formal rate-case process: a utility files a petition with the FPSC, regulators review the application over several months, and if approved, the increase is passed to customers. This is designed to allow utilities a fair return on investment while protecting consumers — but in practice, utilities typically receive a substantial share of what they request.
What has driven the recent increases:
- Natural gas fuel costs. Both TECO and Duke Energy Florida rely heavily on natural gas to generate electricity. When natural gas prices spiked following global supply disruptions in 2022, fuel costs were passed directly to customers through the fuel-adjustment component of the bill. These adjustments can change a monthly bill significantly without any formal rate case at all.
- Grid hardening and storm preparation. After repeated hurricane damage, Florida utilities have invested billions in underground power lines, substation hardening, and grid resilience improvements. These costs are recovered through customer rates over years and decades.
- Renewable energy capital investment. Utilities have invested significantly in solar capacity — partly driven by federal clean-energy policy — and the capital costs are recovered through base-rate increases.
- Transmission and distribution upgrades. Serving rapidly growing communities like Riverview, FishHawk, and Apollo Beach requires constant infrastructure expansion, funded through customer rates.
The average Florida residential electricity customer now pays among the higher rates in the Southeast. In a state where air conditioning runs essentially year-round — and where summer electric bills can routinely reach $200–$400 per month — this is not a minor inconvenience. For retirees on fixed incomes in Sun City Center and families in Riverview, rising utility costs are a genuine financial strain that compounds the broader cost-of-living squeeze.
The Federal Policies Driving Up the FL-14 Energy Bill
Florida utility rates are set by the FPSC, but federal energy policy significantly affects the costs utilities must pass to customers. Several federal decisions have contributed to higher electricity costs:
Natural-gas export policy. The United States has become a major exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe and Asia. Increased LNG exports have tightened domestic natural gas supply and raised prices — which flows directly into higher generation costs for Florida utilities that depend on natural gas as a primary fuel. Permitting reform and a balanced LNG export policy that protects domestic supply matter to every TECO customer in Hillsborough County.
EPA emissions regulations. Federal EPA rules have required utilities to accelerate the retirement of older, lower-cost coal and natural gas generation. The transition to newer facilities involves significant capital investment recovered through customer rates over years. Where the regulatory cost exceeds the air-quality benefit for FL-14 communities, the rule should be revisited.
Permitting and regulatory delays for energy infrastructure. New pipelines, transmission lines, and generation facilities face lengthy federal permitting processes. Delays in bringing new supply to market keep energy costs higher than they would be under a faster, more predictable permitting regime.
Federal clean-energy mandates. Solar and wind have an important role in Florida’s future grid, but federal mandates that force rapid transitions before technologies are fully cost-competitive impose transition costs on ratepayers. The structure of these subsidies and mandates affects what FL-14 households pay.
The bottom line: Washington’s energy policy decisions show up on every monthly electric bill in Hillsborough County. A representative who does not understand — or does not prioritize — the impact of federal energy regulation on Florida ratepayers is not fighting for this district.
How to Lower Your Electric Bill in FL-14 Right Now
While Congress works on long-term solutions, there are practical steps Hillsborough households can take today to reduce monthly electric bills:
- Enroll in budget billing. Both TECO and Duke Energy Florida offer budget billing programs that spread the annual electricity cost across equal monthly payments, eliminating the spike of summer bills. Contact your utility’s customer service or check the website to enroll.
- Ask about time-of-use rates. Both utilities offer time-of-use rate plans that charge less during off-peak hours (typically evenings, nights, and weekends). Shifting laundry, dishwashing, and EV charging to these hours can reduce a bill meaningfully.
- Take advantage of utility efficiency programs. TECO and Duke Energy Florida both offer free or subsidized home energy audits, rebates for efficient appliances, and rebates for smart thermostats. Check
tecoenergy.com/save-energyandduke-energy.com/home/products/home-energy-checkupfor current programs. - Weatherize your home. Air sealing, attic insulation, and window film significantly reduce the cooling load on the AC — the single largest contributor to summer electric bills in Florida. Many improvements pay for themselves within a few years in utility savings.
- Upgrade the thermostat. A programmable or smart thermostat reduces AC usage when nobody is home and typically pays for itself within one cooling season.
- Check low-income assistance. Florida’s LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) provides utility bill assistance for qualifying households. Contact the Hillsborough County community services office for eligibility.
What Congress Can Do — and John Peters’ Energy Plan
The fastest way to lower energy costs for FL-14 families is to increase domestic energy production — oil, natural gas, and nuclear — to drive prices down through supply. Affordable energy in Florida is not just an economic issue; in this climate it is a public health issue for elderly and lower-income residents who cannot afford to run their air conditioning adequately during summer heat events.
John Peters will fight for:
- Expanded domestic natural gas production and infrastructure. Cutting the federal regulatory barriers that restrict natural gas drilling, pipeline construction, and LNG export terminal permitting — while protecting domestic supply so prices stay competitive — is the single fastest way to reduce the fuel costs that drive the Florida electric bill.
- Investment in next-generation nuclear. Nuclear produces zero emissions and delivers reliable baseload power at competitive cost. Small modular reactor (SMR) technology offers a path to clean, affordable, weather-independent baseload power. Federal investment in SMR development and streamlined NRC permitting for new nuclear should be a priority.
- Regulatory reform. Federal EPA rules that require expensive upgrades to generation facilities without proportional air-quality benefit for FL-14 communities should be revised. Regulatory cost always lands on the ratepayer’s bill.
- Grid resilience and modernization. Federal investment in Florida’s transmission grid — including support for underground lines in hurricane-prone corridors — reduces storm-related outages and the expensive restoration costs that get passed to customers. Resilience investment serves double duty: improved reliability and lower long-term cost.
Florida is a state that depends on affordable energy. Air conditioning is not a luxury in this climate — it is a health necessity, particularly for elderly residents in Sun City Center and families with young children across Brandon, Valrico, and Plant City. After eighteen years in Washington, the federal levers that would lower FL-14 electric bills have not been pulled. John Peters will pull them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my TECO bill so high?
Three stacked increases: a PSC-approved base-rate increase ($184.9 million effective January 2025, with further steps in 2026 and 2027), a hurricane-cost surcharge of about $19.95 per month per 1,000 kWh running through August 2026 (mostly Milton and Helene restoration), and fuel adjustments that added to bills in mid-2025 and January 2026. The benchmark 1,000-kWh bill reached $176.89 in January 2026, up about 23% from January 2024.
When will TECO bills go down?
The scheduled relief: the hurricane surcharge ends after August 2026, which TECO says will reduce bills by $19.95 per 1,000 kWh in September 2026. Base rates still step up modestly in 2027 ($9.1 million), and fuel charges move with natural-gas prices, so the structural fixes — more domestic supply and grid cost discipline — run through federal policy.
Why is my electric bill so high in Florida?
Florida electric bills are among the higher ones in the Southeast for several reasons: heavy year-round air conditioning load, utilities’ heavy dependence on natural gas (whose prices have risen significantly), ongoing grid-hardening investment after hurricane damage, and recent FPSC-approved rate cases. Federal energy policies affecting natural gas supply and EPA emissions rules on power plants also contribute to higher generation cost.
How does the Florida Public Service Commission set utility rates?
The FPSC sets utility rates through a regulated rate-case process: a utility files a petition requesting a rate increase, regulators review the filing over several months, and if approved, the increase takes effect for customers. There is also a fuel-adjustment mechanism that allows utilities to pass changes in natural gas prices directly to customers each month, independent of formal rate cases.
What does TECO serve in FL-14?
Tampa Electric Company (TECO) serves most of Hillsborough County, including Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, and the surrounding communities — effectively the bulk of FL-14. TECO is regulated by the Florida Public Service Commission. Duke Energy Florida serves smaller portions of the county. Both offer budget billing, time-of-use rate plans, and home energy efficiency rebates.
How can I lower my electric bill in FL-14?
The most effective steps include: enrolling in budget billing to eliminate seasonal spikes; using a programmable or smart thermostat; weatherizing your home with air sealing and attic insulation; running high-energy appliances during off-peak hours to qualify for lower time-of-use rates; and using your utility’s free home energy audit and appliance rebate programs. Lower-income households may qualify for LIHEAP utility bill assistance through Hillsborough County community services.
Does federal policy actually affect Florida electricity rates?
Yes, significantly. Federal energy policy affects Florida electricity rates through natural-gas export policy (which affects domestic supply and prices), EPA emissions rules on power plants (which require expensive upgrades), permitting rules for new pipelines and generation, and federal clean-energy mandates that affect the rate structure utilities pass to customers. Every dollar on the bill that does not need to be there is a dollar Washington is wasting through bad energy policy.
Stand for affordable energy in FL-14
Affordable electricity is a basic condition for working families and retirees across Hillsborough County. Real federal policy responses exist — they need a representative who will vote for them.
Donate to John Peters’ campaign or contact the campaign to get involved. See John’s full plan on economic growth and the issues that matter most to FL-14.