Fasano named to PSC council

The PSC regulates public utilities, including Aloha, which the state lawmaker has often battled.

By MATTHEW WAITE

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 7, 2001

NEW PORT RICHEY -- State Rep. Mike Fasano was appointed Monday to a legislative council that picks candidates for the Public Service Commission, days after his longtime fight with Aloha Utilities dusted up again.

Fasano was appointed to the Florida Public Service Commission Nominating Council, which reviews applications and selects three candidates for gubernatorial appointment to vacancies on the PSC. The PSC regulates private utilities in Florida.

Fasano on Tuesday said he was put on the council because of the time he has spent on private utility issues in his Pasco district.

The majority of that time has been spent warring with Aloha Utilities, of which Fasano is a customer. And the latest exchange of fire between the two has come in two recent letters.

Along with its most recent bill to customers, Aloha Utilities included a letter explaining changes in the company and its billing. The letter, from Aloha president Steven G. Watford, said that any appeals Fasano files against rate increases could take months and "hundreds of thousands of your dollars to comply with the appeal process."

Fasano fired back Friday, sending a letter to the PSC chairman E. Leon Jacobs calling Aloha's letter "inflammatory."

"To threaten additional 'hundreds of thousands' of dollars for appeal is tantamount to intimidation," Fasano wrote.

Fasano said Monday that he compared selecting regulators for utilities like Aloha to selecting judges.

"You don't want someone who is for one side or another."

- Matthew Waite can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6247 or (800) 333-7505, ext. 6247. His e-mail address is waite@sptimes.com.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright