Title: Rising Energy Costs in Florida Leave Families Struggling to Pay Bills
In Tampa, Krystal Pate faces a difficult decision every month as she weighs how to pay her bills. Rent always comes first, followed by trying to chip away at her growing balance with Tampa Electric. Pate, a mother of five, lives in a three-bedroom apartment in South Tampa and has seen her electricity bills skyrocket in recent years.
Last year, Pate often spent well over $300 a month to power her home, with one bill climbing to $455 due to a faulty air conditioning unit. The rising energy costs in Florida have hit families like Pate’s hard, with prices increasing dramatically over the past few years.
According to a Tampa Bay Times analysis, Florida’s energy bills were the fourth-highest in the nation last year, up from 13th a decade ago. The spike in costs can be attributed to various factors, but the volatility of natural gas prices has played a significant role.
Florida relies heavily on natural gas for electricity generation, with 74% of the state’s electricity coming from this source. The state’s dependence on natural gas has made it vulnerable to price fluctuations, which have been exacerbated by global events such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
While the price of natural gas has begun to stabilize, the relief has been slow to reach consumers. Energy companies like Tampa Electric and Duke Energy have filed paperwork to lower the amount customers pay for fuel, with the full extent of the decrease expected to be felt starting this summer.
Critics argue that utility companies share some responsibility for the spike in bills, as both Tampa Electric and Duke Energy have requested rate increases from state regulators. Clean-energy advocates point out that Florida’s grid would be less vulnerable to fuel price swings if more energy came from renewable sources.
Low-income families are particularly hard-hit by rising energy costs, as they tend to live in older, less energy-efficient homes. Organizations like the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay have seen a significant increase in requests for assistance with utility bills, highlighting the broader challenges faced by these communities.
For families like Pate’s, the struggle to pay bills is a constant source of stress. Despite the challenges, Pate remains grateful for what she has and tries to stay positive in the face of mounting debt. As she continues to search for a solution, she hopes for relief from the burden of high energy costs in the future.