SESSION WATCH
Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 1482

Electric Utility 10-year Site Plans
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SPONSOR
Bernard
FILED BY
Mack Bernard — District 24, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Regulated Industries

Filed under Local Government.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Electric Utility 10-year Site Plans; Revising requirements for estimates included in the 10-year site plan; requiring the Florida Public Service Commission to issue a final order within a specified timeframe after receiving a proposed plan; authorizing the commission to reject such plan under certain circumstances; requiring electric utilities to submit a revised plan within a specified timeframe upon such rejection, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Gives regulators binding power to approve or reject utility plans.

The Public Service Commission must now issue a binding final order approving, amending, or rejecting each electric utility's 10-year site plan, instead of merely classifying it 'suitable' or 'unsuitable' without binding effect.

Before approving a plan, the commission must find it reasonable and in the best interest of the utility's customers in this state, and may reject a plan that fails to comply with this section or commission rules.

A utility may no longer file for certification of a power plant site that isn't already designated in its current 10-year plan, and any plan amendment now needs commission approval rather than just notice.

Public hearings become mandatory for investor-owned utilities' plans, the commission must adopt review procedures consistent with chapter 120, and it must weigh four new factors, including the regulatory and compliance costs a plan passes to customers.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Turns plan review into a binding approve-or-reject order majors. 186.801

AIInstead of a non-binding 'suitable' or 'unsuitable' classification, the commission must now issue a final order approving, approving with amendments, or rejecting each 10-year site plan within 9 months of receiving it.

“issue a final order approving, approving with amendments, or rejecting such plan” bill text, line 41 →
§ 2 Sets a reasonableness and customer-interest standard for approval majors. 186.801

AIBefore issuing its final order, the commission must determine whether the plan is reasonable and in the best interest of the utility's customers in this state, and may reject a plan that does not comply with this section or commission rules.

“shall review such plan to determine whether it is reasonable and in the best interest of the utility's customers in this state” bill text, line 75 →
§ 3 Bars certifying a power plant site left out of the approved plan majors. 186.801

AIA utility may no longer file for certification of a power plant site that is not already designated in its current 10-year site plan -- closing a route that previously let an undesignated site count as an automatic plan amendment once a certification application was filed.

“An electric utility may not file an application for certification of an electrical power plant site”
§ 4 Makes public hearings mandatory for investor-owned utilities' plans majors. 186.801

AIA public hearing is now required whenever a 'public utility' as defined in section 366.02 -- one of Florida's investor-owned electric utilities -- files a 10-year site plan for commission review.

“The commission shall hold a public hearing for a plan submitted by a public utility as defined in s. 366.02” bill text, line 53 →
§ 5 Requires the commission to adopt formal plan-review procedures moderates. 186.801

AIThe commission must adopt procedures, consistent with chapter 120, for considering and approving each electric utility's 10-year site plan, rather than handling that review on an ad hoc basis.

“The commission shall adopt procedures for consideration and approval of each electric utility's plans consistent with chapter 120” bill text, line 51 →
§ 6 Adds new factors the commission must weigh in every plan review moderates. 186.801

AIThe commission must now also consider a plan's cost-effectiveness against other options, the benefit of energy resources located inside Florida, and the adequacy of proposed demand-side management, in addition to weighing the regulatory and compliance costs a plan passes on to customers.

“The impact of the plan on future regulatory risks and compliance costs and the impacts of those risks and costs on the utility's customers” bill text, line 89 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Regulated Industries
1/22/2026
Introduced
1/16/2026
Referred to Regulated Industries; Appropriations Committee on...
1/8/2026
Filed
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 186.801
+360 / −78