Public utilities watchdog to keep eye on phone rates
Former public counsel Jack Shreve is leaving retirement to monitor rate hikes proposed by telephone companies.
By LUCY MORGAN
Published September 25, 2003
TALLAHASSEE - He's baaaaack.
Jack Shreve, longtime nemesis of public utilities as the public counsel for the Public Service Commission, was named special consumer affairs counsel by State Attorney General Charlie Crist.
Shreve, 71, reluctantly retired June 30 after serving as public counsel for 25 years. He fought rate increases and forced several companies to repay millions of dollars.
Crist said he always respected Shreve and his work and has been trying to hire him since he heard he was retiring. Shreve will work on a $5,000-a-month contract.
"It gives me an opportunity to continue in the direction I always wanted to," Shreve said. "I don't do much fishing."
Shreve began working in Tallahassee when he was elected to the House in 1970. His best-known legislative achievement was a law creating a statewide grand jury to investigate crimes that cross jurisdictional borders.
After leaving the Legislature in 1974, Shreve became Florida's first public counsel in 1978. He led consumer battles that ended with Florida Power & Light Co. of Miami cutting rates by $600-million; Southern Bell, now BellSouth, reducing rates by $300-million; and a decision last year that forced Florida Power Corp., now Progress Energy Florida Inc., to cut rates by $125-million.
When he retired, legislators credited Shreve with forcing more than $5-billion in rate reductions and more than $1-billion in refunds/
Crist said Shreve will closely monitor rate hikes sought by telephone companies. The AARP and other consumer organizations have urged the PSC to reject the proposals, which are supposed to increase competition.
"It is something we care deeply about," Crist said.
Shreve said he is a Democrat, but said Crist, a Republican, never asked.
"What is important is his tremendous dedication to the people of Florida," Crist said. "I'm putting together the best and brightest I can find. Jack Shreve is a treasure for Florida."
