St. Pete Council OKs study to review costs, benefits of owning its own utilities

The St. Petersburg City Council voted 4-3 to fund a $590,000 study by NewGen Strategies to evaluate the costs and benefits of creating a city-owned utility to replace Duke Energy Florida. The decision follows public pressure over rising electricity rates and Duke Energy's 30-year franchise agreement expiring in August. A similar study in Clearwater suggested potential savings for residents if the city formed its own utility.