Florida Chamber of Commerce Disagrees With State Estimating Conference’s Indeterminate Findings on Proposed Energy Regulation

“We cannot secure Florida’s future with regulatory policies that will make our state less competitive and electricity more expensive.”

– Mark Wilson, President and CEO, Florida Chamber of Commerce

TALLAHASSEE, FL (March 15, 2019) – Florida Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mark Wilson today released the below statement following news that the Financial Impact Estimating Conference (FIEC) did not determine the impact an effort to drastically change Florida’s electricity market would have on Florida’s communities and our state.

“The Florida Chamber of Commerce disagrees with the FIEC’s conclusions, particularly in light of the empirical evidence presented by expert economists showing the likelihood of significant increased costs.

 

“Studies by Charles River Associates and others shows that the proposed changes to Florida’s electricity market would have the very damaging financial impact on state and local governments of more than $1.2 billion per year in increased costs and reduced revenues. That means less funding for vital local services, including fire departments and first responders, and higher taxes for consumers and small businesses.

 

“We cannot secure Florida’s future with regulatory policies that will make our state less competitive and electricity more expensive. Voters deserve to know the facts – this price-hiking electricity related amendment is a drastic and costly proposal that will drive up costs on Florida’s families, consumers and local businesses.”

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Established in 1916 as Florida’s first statewide business advocacy organization, the Florida Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business and the state’s largest federation of employers, chambers of commerce and associations aggressively representing small and large businesses from every industry and every region. The Florida Chamber works within all branches of government to affect those changes set forth in the annual Florida Business Agenda, and which are seen as critical to secure Florida’s future. The Florida Chamber works closely with its Florida Political Operations and the Florida Chamber Foundation. Visit www.FloridaChamber.com for more information.