Vero Beach City Utilities vs. FPL

Ever wonder what the City of Vero Beach was doing as the middle-man for electric services? Well, it's to make $$$$! And it's going so well that they can pay dividends to the stockholders. Those stockholders, the city and it's residents, add up to only 39% of the electric accounts within the city limits. 61% of the City of Vero Beach electric customers are OUTSIDE of the city. and for that, they pay over 21% MORE for their electric than if they were serviced by FPL!

There is a growing push for the city to get out of the electric business altogether, especially since they merely buy and resell it, rather than generate the power. And some would like to give those outside the city limits an opportunity to switch to FPL if they so desire. Others, chiefly city officials on the cash reaping end of this situation, think it's all just fine the way it is. And get this, those outside the city limits have no voting rights on the issue, even it were to come to a city-wide referendum.

Whatever side of this you might stand on, it IS something impacting some of the real estate transactions in this county. Now, about 30% of the time, I'm asked what entity provides the electric to the address BEFORE I'm asked the list price of the property! I am continually faced with both buyer and tenant prospects seeking to avoid the excess charges for electric from the City of Vero Beach.

Let's hope that when VB's contract begins on January 1st, 2010 with Orlando Utilities Commission, the new power provider, the bills for those receiving electric service from the City can be negotiated to fall more in line with what it would cost through FPL.