[loobob83]

Lake County Residents who utilize Duke Energy for their electric. My bill last month included taxes of $5.33, this months bill the taxes are $32.94. Two new line items have been added to the bill.

Municipal Franchise Fee $10.61
Municipal Utility Tax $16.36

When I called Duke to get an explanation they were basically clueless, just stated that the new fees were added based on Florida Statute Chapter 166. I looked this up and you can imagine the nonsense stated in this statute. Anyone have similar items added to their Duke bill and can shed some light before I call Lake County and just get frustrated. These new line items will be on all future monthly bills. Appreciate any information anyone can provide.

[rjm1cc]

My July 18th bill had an 80 cent tax which is normal. I do not live in you area so I assume the tax is just the town you live in. I would call the county utility department and they can probably tell you what is going on.

Just tried my brouser AI and this looks like it will help
why are utilities in lake county Florida adding two new taxes to electric bills

Copilot
Sent by Copilot:
Ah, the mysteries of utility bills—sometimes they’re more puzzling than a Rubik’s Cube! Let’s unravel this together, shall we? ������

In Lake County, Florida, it seems there’s been a recent shake-up in the electric bill landscape. Residents who use Duke Energy for their electricity have noticed a couple of new line items on their bills. Here’s the scoop:

Municipal Franchise Fee:
This fee is now showing up on your bill. It’s essentially a charge that utilities (like Duke Energy) pay to local governments for the privilege of operating within their jurisdiction. In other words, it’s like a “rent” for using public rights-of-way (such as utility poles and underground conduits) to deliver electricity to your home.
The amount you’re seeing—$10.61—is likely based on a percentage of your electricity usage or a fixed fee determined by the local government.
Municipal Utility Tax:
Another new addition! This tax is specific to utilities and is collected by the local government. It’s often used to fund various municipal services, infrastructure improvements, or other community needs.
Your bill now includes $16.36 for this tax. Again, the exact calculation method might vary, but it’s typically based on your electricity consumption.
Why the Change? When you called Duke Energy seeking an explanation, they invoked Florida Statute Chapter 166. Now, I won’t pretend to be a legal expert, but I can tell you that statutes can sometimes be as clear as a foggy morning. ������️ However, it’s likely that these new fees were introduced due to local decisions or changes in regulations. Sometimes even the utility companies themselves are a bit baffled by the intricacies of these rules!

Now, if you’re feeling a tad frustrated (and who wouldn’t?), you’re not alone. But before you dial up Lake County, let’s take a deep breath. Here are a few steps you might consider:

Research Further: Dive into that Florida Statute Chapter 166 (if you dare). Sometimes the “nonsense” in legal language can surprise you with its complexity or lack of clarity.
Community Forums: You’re not the only one scratching your head over this. Check out local forums or community groups—like the one where you posted your question. Others might have insights or experiences to share.
Contact Lake County: When you do call Lake County, approach it with curiosity rather than frustration. Ask politely for clarification on these new fees. They might be able to shed some light on the situation.
Remember, you’re not alone in this electric bill labyrinth. And hey, at least it’s not as confusing as trying to assemble IKEA furniture without the instructions! ������

Is there anything else you’d like me to help unravel, or perhaps a different topic you’d like to explore?

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by loobob83

Anyone have similar items added to their Duke bill and can shed some light before I call Lake County and just get frustrated.

Not worth getting frustrated over laws and regulations that you can't change, but may benefit you or your communities.

In MA and NY, the regulators mandate public programs be paid for by electrical consumers. Some of these are worthwhile, others are just a source of money for consumer education and savings programs.

Since Duke is regulated by the state regulator, they are not charging you because they just decided to, they are being forced to bill you and distribute the money to the proper authorities for their use, because the regulator told them they had to bill you . .

Since its the middle of the year, and regulators are all on the calendar year, it may be a catch up for the year to date, and then a much smaller amount monthly for the rest of the year.

You are living in a time period where there has been an inflation impulse, and it's a bit of a different environment than the last 10 plus years. . but more like the 70's, remember those bill increases?

[WiseSpender]

166.231 Municipalities; public service tax.—
(1)(a) A municipality may levy a tax on the purchase of electricity, metered natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas either metered or bottled, manufactured gas either metered or bottled, and water service. Except for those municipalities in which paragraph (c) applies, the tax shall be levied only upon purchases within the municipality and shall not exceed 10 percent of the payments received by the seller of the taxable item from the purchaser for the purchase of such service.

The statute only tells you that your municipality has the power to impose that tax and the maximum rate (10%), but does not tell you what that tax is for specifically, therefore the municipality can use that tax money on ANY general expense.

[Rainger99]

It looks like an additional tax by Leesburg - not Lake County. You should contact the mayor and the city commissioners. The mayor is up for reelection in November.

With all of the additional property taxes just from Newell, Lake Denham, and Dabney, I am surprised that they would add these junk fees - although increasing taxes from $5 to $32 is not junk. Did they think people wouldn’t notice?

It looks like the taxes should apply to everyone In Leesburg so I would think everyone is upset.

We have elections. In theory, citizens should decide these issues. Politicians have been voted out of office on smaller issues.


City Commission