As the end of their franchise agreement with the City of Clearwater comes to a close at year’s end, Clearwater is contemplating dumping Duke Energy in favor of forming a municipal electric utility (MEU or MUNI). Saint Petersburg is paying close attention since its franchise agreement is also coming up for renewal next year. On October 22, MidPoint examined the issues around the possibility of  Clearwater moving to “dump Duke” and form an MEU with our guests, environmentalist Bryan Beckman, Chair of the Sierra Club Suncoast Executive Committee, Susan Glickman, Vice President for Policy and Partnerships for The CLEO Institute, an organization dedicated to climate education and advocacy, and Ritchie Floyd, Saint Petersburg City Council representative from District 8, a fervent activist, and member of the Democratic Socialists of America.

MidPoint contacted New Gen Strategies and Solutions, the consulting company hired by the City of Clearwater to conduct a feasibility study on forming a municipal electric utility. The NewGen report presented a very positive picture of the project, ultimately leading to reduced electric rates for consumers and more undergrounding of lines to provide better reliability and services.  NewGen declined to speak with us, but referred us back to the City of Clearwater. We contacted the City and tried to get someone from the City administration to join us to discuss the feasibility study, but we were told no one was available at our show time. We did not contact Duke because they have an extensive communications and PR department that assists them in getting their message out in the community, which the activists and advocates for the MEU lack. Duke also filed their own report with the City that suggested it is not feasible to move to an MEU because, among other reasons, Duke would refuse to sell the City its power infrastructure, and that would require the City to engage in a lengthy and costly eminent domain legal fight to gain access to the means to deliver electricity to Clearwater customers. Duke’s cost projections for developing an MEU were also about double what the NewGen consultants had projected.

On  September 29, 2025, the Clearwater City Council heard a discussion of the NewGen feasibility study from its consultants. At Item 4.3, the study is discussed in the Council meeting

The feasibility report from NewGen Strategies & Solutions, which analyzes the possibility of Clearwater leaving Duke Energy, can be viewed on the City of Clearwater’s official agenda and minutes website, Legistar. The document is titled “Clearwater Public Power Feasibility Report — NewGen.pdf”.

Navigate to the City of Clearwater’s Legistar portal.

The NewGen consultants relied heavily on the experience of the City of Winter Park, Florida, which formed an MEU some 20 years earlier.  While the process was difficult and there were obstacles, now, Winter Park points to its success in significantly reducing its residents’ electric bills and undergrounding 80% of its utility power lines. Pointing to that and other examples, the environmentalists on our show overwhelmingly favored the MEU, suggesting that, in addition to lowering electric costs, it would be more effective in setting and meeting climate goals and promoting more incentives and rebates to customers for retrofitting their homes for greater energy efficiency. Susan Glickman pointed out that the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) ranks utilities around the country on their efficiency programs. Out of 53 utilities, Duke Energy Florida is ranked 47.

Listen to the entire show here, or as a WMNF MidPoint podcast from Spotify or Apple Music.

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