Millions of Florida Power & Light customers will receive a one-time reduction on their September electricity bills after state regulators approved an $80 million refund linked to overcharges for hurricane restoration work.
How Much Customers Could Save
The refund will be applied automatically through lower base-rate charges rather than sent as a separate payment. Florida Power & Light said a typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity could save about $8 on their September bill.
The reduction follows months of higher charges tied to repairs carried out after Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton during the 2024 hurricane season.
Why Customers Were Charged More
In December 2024, Florida regulators approved a $1.2 billion storm recovery package for Florida Power & Light. The package covered restoration costs and replenished a $150 million storm reserve fund. It added about $12 a month to the average customer bill during 2025 through a temporary storm restoration surcharge.
Florida Power & Light originally estimated that Hurricane Milton would cost $811.1 million, Hurricane Debby $113.5 million and Hurricane Helene $157.8 million. The combined estimate came to almost $1.1 billion.
Final Repair Costs Were Lower Than Expected
Once restoration work was completed, regulators reviewed the utility’s actual spending. Florida Power & Light ultimately reported costs of $774.4 million for Hurricane Milton, $88.3 million for Debby and $167.6 million for Helene.
Because the final total was lower than projected, the Florida Public Service Commission concluded that customers had paid more than was required. The commission then approved the refund, which will be shared among Florida Power & Light customers across the state. The company serves more than 12 million people in 43 counties.
Regulators Say Customers Should Pay Only Verified Costs
Florida Public Service Commission chairwoman Gabriella Passidomo Smith said the review process was intended to ensure that households paid only reasonable and necessary restoration costs.
The decision comes as many Florida residents continue to face high housing, insurance and utility expenses. Although the individual saving is relatively small, it will provide temporary relief for households that have paid storm-related surcharges throughout the year.
Duke Energy Customers Also Received Refunds
Florida regulators approved a similar refund earlier this year for Duke Energy Florida. That company collected slightly more than $1 billion for hurricane-related costs, while final expenses came to $915.3 million.
The difference led to a $90.5 million refund pot. Duke Energy began applying refunds during the June billing cycle. Customers received about 56 cents for every 1,000 kilowatt-hours used. The two decisions show how state reviews can return excess storm-recovery collections to consumers once actual repair costs are confirmed.
