TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Public Service Commission Tuesday in a series of nine unanimous votes affirmed its June 5 approval of the terms of the sale of the Vero Beach electric utility to Florida Power and Light for $185 million.
The special call meeting was held after appeals were filed and an evidentiary hearing on Oct. 19 in which local and expert witnesses testified as to the “extraordinary circumstances” surrounding the sale of Vero’s system and 34,000 customers, 61 percent of whom live outside the Vero Beach City Limits.
A handful of FPL officials, plus attorneys representing Indian River County and Indian River Shores were on hand for the emotional vote. The meeting lasted about 20 minutes. None of the local objectors to the sale were present.
After many years of hard work, those involved in the sale exchanged warm hugs, handshakes and expressed sincere gratitude to each other and to the four members of the PSC who were present. Chairman Art Graham, who opposed the terms of the deal, was absent, so Vice Chair Julie Brown led the meeting in Graham’s ansence.
“It’s been a long time coming, and the PSC did the right thing for the people of Indian River County,” said FPL Regional Manager for External Affairs Amy Brunjes, who noted that she got involved with the issue 10 years ago this month.
The PSC staff reversed its positions after opposing the deal this summer, that favorable recommendation paving the way for the Commission to wholeheartedly affirm its approval.
Commissioner Gary Clark summed it up by saying “There are plenty of public benefits here.”
The Commission will memorialize the decision with a formal written order. Now Vero and FPL officials can move forward the goal of closing the sale by the end of 2018.