At the FPUA Board meeting held on April 5, 2016, the Board instructed the Director of Utilities to recommend the Fort Pierce City Commission to direct City staff to apply the extra City Distribution funds, in the amount of $155,541, toward FPUA’s Weatherization Program.

In 2012, FPUA restructured its Electric rate to move $30 per 1,000kWh from the Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) to the base power cost included in the base rate, making no adjustment to the total bill. As a result, the PCA decreased from $35 per 1,000kWh to $5 per 1,000kWh at that time. Since then, natural gas prices, and therefore power costs, have continued to decrease. Beginning July 1, 2015, the PCA dropped below zero.

The calculation of the City Distribution is set forth within the City of Fort Pierce Charter, Article XII, Section 178. Because the PCA (positive or negative) is not included in this calculation, FPUA is continuing to pay distribution on the base power cost of $79.52 per 1,000kWh included in the base rate. FPUA recovered $75.53 per 1,000kWh from the customer during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 (FY 2015). The negative PCA for FY 2015 resulted in a credit to FPUA customers of $2,592,357. FPUA will pay an additional $155,541 in City Distribution this year as a result of the change implemented in 2012. Applying the extra funds toward FPUA’s Weatherization Program will provide a benefit to Fort Pierce citizens today and into the future.