better way
it’s time for a
to power st. pete
Public power puts control back in the hands of the people and exists with the primary purpose of enhancing the quality of life of its customers and their communities.
why public power
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The non-profit model keeps costs low partially by removing the requirement to generate profits for shareholders or investors. Utility revenues can instead be reinvested into maintaining or improving the infrastructure or by directly lowering rates.
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Local officials are directly accountable to the community they serve. Individuals voicing concerns at municipal utility board meetings are protected rights by the first amendment. Public access to the utility’s decisionmakers means they are vulnerable to public pressure.
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Municipal electric utilities often contribute to the city’s general revenues as a payment in lieu of taxes. This contribution helps to offset property taxes. Utilities also contribute to the community by creating jobs, improving infrastructure and supporting the local economy.
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Public records and open meetings allow residents to review reporting and details about utility spending, projects, and performance metrics. Customers of a public utility are encouraged to participate in meetings where they can share their input to help shape how the utility is managed.
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The non-profit model keeps costs low partially by removing the requirement to generate profits for shareholders or investors. Utility revenues can instead be reinvested into maintaining or improving the infrastructure or by directly lowering rates.
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Local officials are directly accountable to the community they serve. Individuals voicing concerns at municipal utility board meetings are protected rights by the first amendment. Public access to the utility’s decisionmakers means they are vulnerable to public pressure.
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Municipal electric utilities often contribute to the city’s general revenues as a payment in lieu of taxes. This contribution helps to offset property taxes. Utilities also contribute to the community by creating jobs, improving infrastructure and supporting the local economy.
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Public records and open meetings allow residents to review reporting and details about utility spending, projects, and performance metrics. Customers of a public utility are encouraged to participate in meetings where they can share their input to help shape how the utility is managed.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Basics:
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Investor-Owned - An investor-owned utility (IOU) is a for-profit company, they are accountable to private shareholders and investors. Decision-making is solely to generate returns for shareholders.
Publicly Owned - A publicly owned utility is a not-for-profit entity owned by taxpayers and run as a division of government (city, state or federal) or an independent public utility district. Decision-making is based on the community feedback and needs.
Cooperative - A cooperative utility, also known as an electric co-op, is a private, not-for-profit provider of power owned by the people it serves. Members have equal decision-making power or can elect a board of directors to represent them.
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Duke Energy is an investor-owned utility, meaning it is operated as a private company and is required to generate returns for shareholders.
A publicly owned utility is run by a local government or public authority and does not have shareholders. This means decisions can be made with a focus on community priorities, and revenue can be reinvested into the system rather than paid out as profit.
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While complex, public ownership of electric utilities is legally and structurally possible. Communities across the United States operate publicly owned utilities, and transitions have occurred before. The process typically involves regulatory approval, financing, and long-term planning.
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Yes. More than 2,000 communities in the United States are served by publicly owned utilities. In numerous cases, communities have transitioned from investor-owned utilities to public power systems through a structured acquisition process.
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Publicly owned utilities are typically governed by local officials or an appointed board, with oversight mechanisms designed to ensure accountability to the community. Day-to-day operations are handled by utility professionals.
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The existing infrastructure would continue to be used. A public takeover generally involves acquiring and operating the current system, rather than building a new one from scratch.
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No. Public power utilities across the country operate reliably and maintain electric service as a core priority. Any transition would be planned to maintain continuity of service.
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We believe public ownership would allow for lower rates, greater local input, increased transparency, and long-term planning focused on community needs.
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The city could fund a project like this the same way Duke Energy does now, by issuing bonds and then using our utility payments to pay off the bonds. This essentially, would not need to change.
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There are a lot of ways for the city to raise funds that don’t include raising taxes. Additionally, municipal electric utilities often contribute to the city’s general revenues as a payment in lieu of taxes. This contribution actually will help to offset property taxes.
To accurately determine the economic impact of public power for a city, a feasibility study must be conducted. Anything else is mere speculation.
duke, The city, & other concerns:
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Investor-owned utilities (IOUs) often resist municipalization (switching to public ownership) due to the potential loss of profits. IOUs exercise their monopoly power in a vicious circle of maximizing profits at the expense of their customers, using that money to gain political power, and then using that power to defend their monopoly and make even more money.
Duke Energy is showing their intent by saying they will drag this process out in the courts instead of respecting the will of the community. We cannot continue to line the pockets of outside Wall Street investors just because Duke says they won’t make it easy to leave.
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The major difference is that, with a municipal utility, you can go and complain to the people who make the decisions. Residents cannot schedule meetings with Duke Energy’s CEO to criticize bad decisions or offer alternate visions for the future. But voicing concerns at municipal utility board meetings is a protected first amendment right.
That’s more than a symbolic difference. Public access to the utility’s decisionmakers means they are vulnerable to public pressure. That pressure can be used to make the utility function in the best interest of the community.
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While the infrastructure may have age, municipalization presents the opportunity for a city to proactively invest in and modernize the grid, tailoring upgrades to our local needs and priorities rather than solely relying on the priorities of a distant IOU concerned only with shareholder returns.
Our existing grid provides a foundation, and through public ownership, we gain the autonomy to guide the necessary upgrades and adaptations for our unique and evolving energy landscape.
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Duke Energy wouldn't be the first investor-owned utility company trying to strong-arm their way into an unfair franchisee deal, and they won't be the last. In the case of Duke continuing to refuse to sell, the city would exercise its eminent domain rights to force a buy-out of the power facilities at a fair price according to the independently conducted valuations.
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Regardless of if we successfully get support for a municipal utility, at the end of the day arguing against Duke will allow us to negotiate a strong contract for our city, instead of letting Duke charge and do whatever they want. Often the investor owned utility is willing to go from a stingy deal to giving concessions after the feasibility study is conducted – Even the threat of public power is enough to get the city a better deal.
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Just like investor-owned utilities, public utilities work together through the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) and other agencies to ensure unified response. According to the Energy Information Administration, in 2023, public power utility customers experienced 3.5 hours less outage time during major events.
We also held a Town Hall on hurricanes and public power in June 2025, during which the American Public Power Association (APPA) gave an in-depth presentation on the mutual aid network, which can be viewed here.
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When local causes receive funding, it originates from us. We are the ones paying for these initiatives, and there’s no reason why we can’t continue doing so while simultaneously saving money by eliminating the middleman.
Duke Energy participates in these charitable efforts for their public image, to maintain political influence, and to deflect criticism so they can maximize profits. We do not need Duke Energy to decide which projects from our community are worthy.
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The city is actively upgrading its outdated utility billing system, NaviLine, to a modern, more efficient platform that will be completed in the next year. More importantly, from public pressure, the city council passed a change to the city ordinance, and stopped water shut offs and late fees for months, something that likely would not happen under investor ownership.
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With phone calls, emails, petitions, canvassing to stir local conversation about Dump Duke, and convince supporters to attend city council meetings to speak their minds about Duke Energy. We want to make it clear to them that the public has an interest in a feasibility study to establish municipal power.
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Personal interest may play a role in this situation. For example, prior to his election to office in St. Petersburg, mayor Ken Welch was an accountant for Duke Energy (formerly named “Florida Power Corp”) and in 2024 proclaimed July 18th as “Duke Energy Day”.
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Supporters should be prepared to be in it for the long-haul. The process from start to finish usually takes a minimum of two years, but could even take upwards of eight or more. We shouldn't forget that this is truly a once in a lifetime chance for change in St. Petersburg that can lead to a difference for generations to come.