Dive Summary:

• Florida Power & Light (FPL) is in a battle with Florida's Office of Public Council (OPC) regarding a settlement that would increase base electric rates next year.
• The settlement is between FPL and major power users and calls for a $378 million base-rate increase in January and another $165.3 million in June; the OPC is attempting to veto the bill via the state's Public Service Commission (PSC).
• FPL representatives say that the OPC shouldn't have any power over a settlement that the company says will benefit both itself and its customers; the PSC is scheduled to hear up to three days of testimony this week about the proposed settlement before deciding on the matter in December.

From the article:

The state Office of Public Counsel represents millions of Florida Power & Light customers in often-arcane utility issues.

But as state regulators heard arguments Monday in a battle about FPL's electric rates, they faced an unusual question: Should they approve a settlement agreement if the Office of Public Counsel vehemently opposes it? ...