The City of St. Petersburg’s franchise agreement with Duke Energy is set to expire on July 31. According to Duke spokesperson Ana Gibbs, there are currently no negotiations between the city and the energy company.
Implications of Expiration
Gibbs confirmed that there will not be an interruption to service delivery for citizens in the event the franchise agreement lapses. The city has been exploring the possibility of municipalization, with a City Council committee requesting a feasibility study in July 2025.
The study, which was awarded to NewGen Strategies and Solutions, has not yet been completed. The city’s decision on whether to renew the agreement with Duke Energy or pursue municipalization may be influenced by the upcoming mayoral primary election on August 18.
Comparison to Clearwater
Clearwater, which also recently explored municipalization, ultimately decided to renew its agreement with Duke Energy. The city of Clearwater commissioned a study on replacing Duke almost 18 months ahead of the expiration of their agreement, which suggested that millions in savings might result from municipalization.
However, the study also highlighted the significant up-front costs and potential eminent domain battle that would be required. In exchange for renewing the agreement, Duke committed to investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in city infrastructure and green space.
Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.
