Florida Chamber of Commerce Opposes Effort to Increase Energy Prices in Florida

“This proposal is a false promise wrapped in a too-good-to-be-true wrapper that has no place in our state’s constitution. Floridians would be wise to reject it if its financial backers spend enough to put it on the ballot.”

– Mark Wilson, President and CEO, Florida Chamber of Commerce

TALLAHASSEE, FL (January 24, 2019) — With media reporting that enough signatures have been acquired to trigger a Supreme Court review, Florida Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mark Wilson, today released the following statement on an effort to change energy regulations in Florida.

“This proposal is a false promise wrapped in a too-good-to-be-true wrapper that has no place in our state’s constitution. Despite claiming to promote choice, it would prohibit Floridians from choosing the very Florida companies that currently serve them.”

 

With an increasingly fragile economic outlook, now isn’t the time to create unnecessary uncertainty and risk raising Floridians’ cost of living even further. Whether a senior on a fixed income, a college student working part time in order to keep going to class, or a local business struggling to make payroll, Floridians deserve affordable and reliable electricity.

 

“Florida has a long history of low electricity rates, and in fact, Florida’s 2018 electric rates were 25 percent lower than the average rate in deregulated states. Far too many states have experienced electricity deregulation buyer’s remorse – higher power prices, compromised reliability and customer service and price volatility.

 

“Unfortunately, that buyer’s remorse would be nearly permanent if this experiment was ensconced in our foundational document rather than having the consequences – both intended and unintended – openly and deliberately debated in the sunshine by our democratically elected officials. Florida’s Constitution is a set of principles that include our fundamental rights and the obligations of the state. The bedrock of our system of government should not be changed without serious consideration, because those amendments are effectively permanent.

 

“Floridians would be wise to reject this misleading proposal if its financial backers spend enough to put it on the ballot.”

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Established in 1916 as Florida’s first statewide business advocacy organization, the Florida Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business and the state’s largest federation of employers, chambers of commerce and associations aggressively representing small and large businesses from every industry and every region. The Florida Chamber works within all branches of government to affect those changes set forth in the annual Florida Business Agenda, and which are seen as critical to secure Florida’s future. The Florida Chamber works closely with its Florida Political Operations and the Florida Chamber Foundation. Visit www.FloridaChamber.com for more information.