VERO BEACH — After nearly two months of waiting to hear whether or not Florida Power and Light and the statewide municipal co-op were going to be able to come to terms that would fast-track the sale of Vero electric to FPL, city officials got word Tuesday that chances are not looking bright.
FPL External Affairs Director Amy Brunjes wrote Vero City Manager Jim O’Connor an update by email late Monday night notifying him that the dollar amount being requested by the Florida Municipal Power Agency as compensation is “much higher than we anticipated.”
Brunjes had stated publicly before the City Council that FPL officials have been “diligently evaluating” those terms to see if they could make them work, but pressure of late has been mounting for an up or down answer.
“Claims of FPL dragging its feet or looking out only for the best interests of its shareholders are simply not true,” Brunjes wrote to O’Connor to counter critics of the investor-owned utility.
She closed the email by saying that FPL is still hoping to bring options forward for consideration as soon as possible.
The Vero Beach City Council’s next regular meeting is set for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4 in council chambers at city hall.
