I read with great interest Gil Ziffer’s recent column regarding the Citizens For Energy Choices ballot initiative.

It is unfortunate that he is either misinformed or misguided as to what our ballot initiative seeks to accomplish.

First and foremost our initiative is not “deregulation.” In fact, the current local, state and federal regulations regarding electricity production and distribution will stay in place — and in some instances be enhanced. 

What we seek is to create consumer choice, breaking the monopoly that investor-owned utilities now enjoy in Florida, thus creating a robust restructured market that encourages innovation and lowers costs to Florida consumers. 

When Texas did this 20 years ago, their citizens soon realized lower costs in restructured markets and increased alternative energy production.  In fact, Texas is now a national leader in renewable energy.  All because of a restructured market.

Mr. Ziffer also implies that our energy costs are less than restructured states.  The United States Chamber of Commerce recently released a study showing that Florida has the highest energy costs in the Southeast and Florida is considerably higher than Texas. In fact, in Texas, a consumer can purchase a power plan comprised of 100% renewable energy cheaper than anything offered currently in Florida. 

Furthermore, the parent companies of our Florida-based investor-owned utilities currently operate in these restructured markets and know the savings that restructured systems have created for their customers.

Why then are they fighting to keep their Florida monopoly?


Mr. Ziffer and his colleagues at Floridians for Affordable Reliable Energy know that their patrons, the investor-owned utilities, stand to risk profits if they are simply forced to compete for business.    

During the course of this conversation, Citizens For Energy Choices encourages Floridians to pay attention to this issue and always ask why the energy companies are spending so much of ratepayer money to retain an antiquated system and thwart innovation.   

If Floridians do so, they will understand that lower costs and enhanced reliability are in their best interest, while holding on to a system designed in the 1930s only benefits the legacy, monopoly power companies.

Alex Patton is a political consultant and chairperson of Citizens for Energy Choices. 

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