THE BILL ITSELF
HB 225
Consumer Fairness in Utility Rates
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to consumer fairness in utility rates;
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amending s. 180.191, F.S.; providing a short title;
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defining the terms "facility" and "recipient
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municipality"; requiring certain municipalities to
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impose the same utility rates, fees, and charges on
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consumers within its municipal boundaries and the
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boundaries of a recipient municipality; prohibiting
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such municipalities from imposing surcharges on
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consumers within the boundaries of a recipient
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municipality unless certain conditions are met;
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prohibiting certain use of such surcharges; requiring
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such municipalities to hold certain public hearings;
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requiring certain municipalities to file specified
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reports with the Public Service Commission; requiring
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the commission to review certain consumer disputes and
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make certain determinations; providing an effective
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date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Section 180.191, Florida Statutes, is amended
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to read:
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(Substantial rewording of section. See
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s. 180.191, F.S., for present text.)
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180.191 Consumer fairness in utility rates.—
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(1) This section may be cited as the "Consumer Fairness in
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Utility Rates Act of 2025."
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(2) As used in this section, the term:
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(a) "Facility" means a water treatment facility, a
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wastewater treatment facility, a pumping station, a well, or
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other physical component of a utility system.
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(b) "Recipient municipality" means a municipality that
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receives water or sewer service from another municipality's
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utility system.
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(3) A municipality operating a water or sewer utility that
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has a facility located within a recipient municipality must
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impose the same base rates, fees, and charges on consumers
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within the recipient municipality as it does on consumers within
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its municipal boundaries.
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(4)(a) A municipality operating a water or sewer utility
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that has a facility located within a recipient municipality may
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not impose a surcharge on consumers within the boundaries of the
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recipient municipality unless the surcharge is:
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1. Directly tied to documented costs of service,
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maintenance, or infrastructure investment; and
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2. Clearly disclosed to the consumer in writing at the
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time of billing.
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(b) Surcharges may not be used as a general revenue source
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or profit margin.
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(5) Before establishing or adjusting rates, fees, or
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surcharges, a municipality operating a water or sewer utility
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that has a facility located within a recipient municipality must
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hold a public hearing to allow input from consumers within its
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municipal boundaries and the boundaries of the recipient
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municipality.
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(6) A municipality operating a water or sewer utility must
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file an annual report with the Public Service Commission
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detailing the use of surcharge revenues.
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(7) Consumer disputes over rates, fees, or surcharges must
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be reviewed by the Public Service Commission for a determination
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of fairness and compliance with this section.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.