FPL will win again without communication

[power temp]

like the chicago 8, let's see what a fortune 500 company does to clean this laundry.

[swapping phases]

Ajax won't wipe these stains out, I don't think you can even shout it out! Finally the media is making the public aware of this corporate greed. It's like digging a hole without locates, you never know what your going to hit next,it just getting deeper and deeper in the public's eye! Oh, these are the executives that built this company, PLEASE! I think I just stained my shorts!

I Gotta Go Wipe,
Swapping Phases

[OLE' SORE KNEES]

Public officials used FPL corporate jets
> Posted by Julie Patel on September 16, 2009 10:48 AM

Florida public officials flew alongside FPL executives, according to flights logs for FPL corporate jets.

Mel Martinez flew on March 31, 2006 when he was a U.S. senator. Other guests on the flights include the spouses of some FPL executives as well as Eric Draper, of the Audubon of Florida which has supported FPL's renewable energy projects in recent years. Jim Scott flew on Feb. 2, 2007, several months after serving as a Broward County Commissioner.

The Sun Sentinel is still reviewing the logs but more than 100 names are blacked out.

Commissioner Nathan Skop asked why that was and asked whether customers are paying for flights for non-FPL officials. FPL customers have paid more than $25 million in the past few years for the corporate jets.

FPL spokesman Mark Bubriski said that the blacked out names are only employees of FPL's alternative arm -- not guests -- because FPL customers don't pay the costs of those flights. It's blacked out because of that and for competitive reasons.

FPL was reimbursed for flights for people who don't work for FPL, Bubriski said.

"All FPL aircraft use serves an important business purpose or the costs are reimbursed appropriately," he said. "We have provided information on all travel paid in total or in part by FPL (including travel that was reimbursed to FPL)."

An FPL official who is qualified to answer questions on the flights will do so later today or tomorrow.

[OLE' SORE KNEES]

Public officials used FPL corporate jets
> Posted by Julie Patel on September 16, 2009 10:48 AM

Florida public officials flew alongside FPL executives, according to flights logs for FPL corporate jets.

Mel Martinez flew on March 31, 2006 when he was a U.S. senator. Other guests on the flights include the spouses of some FPL executives as well as Eric Draper, of the Audubon of Florida which has supported FPL's renewable energy projects in recent years. Jim Scott flew on Feb. 2, 2007, several months after serving as a Broward County Commissioner.

The Sun Sentinel is still reviewing the logs but more than 100 names are blacked out.

Commissioner Nathan Skop asked why that was and asked whether customers are paying for flights for non-FPL officials. FPL customers have paid more than $25 million in the past few years for the corporate jets.

FPL spokesman Mark Bubriski said that the blacked out names are only employees of FPL's alternative arm -- not guests -- because FPL customers don't pay the costs of those flights. It's blacked out because of that and for competitive reasons.

FPL was reimbursed for flights for people who don't work for FPL, Bubriski said.

"All FPL aircraft use serves an important business purpose or the costs are reimbursed appropriately," he said. "We have provided information on all travel paid in total or in part by FPL (including travel that was reimbursed to FPL)."

An FPL official who is qualified to answer questions on the flights will do so later today or tomorrow.

[OLE' SORE KNEES]

Public Service commissioner wants FPL to audit its flights
FPL's corporate flights continued to raise questions as the state's Public Service Commission considers a rate hike of 30 percent.
Similar stories:
•
PSC commissioner won't step down; FPL releases partial corporate-flight log
PSC commissioner won't step down; FPL releases partial corporate-flight log

A Public Service commissioner who dined with a Florida Power & Light executive as the utility sought a rate increase said Wednesday that she won't step down from hearing the case because she remains impartial.

PSC Commissioner Katrina McMurrian ruled that a citizen's demand that she recuse herself was ``legally insufficient'' and based on ``speculative and tenuous'' information that failed to show she was biased.

Unless McMurrian's ruling is appealed, the testimony in the $1.3 billion rate-increase case will continue but slowly -- FPL late Tuesday submitted 1,500 pages worth of corporate-jet flight logs with hundreds of names blacked out. The records showing how the utility is spending its money had been requested by commissioners as they consider whether FPL should be allowed a 30 percent rate increase. FPL estimates will have spent $32.5 million on the corporate plane use since 2006.
•
PSC official won't recuse herself
PSC official won't recuse herself

A Public Service commissioner who dined with a Florida Power & Light executive as the utility sought a rate increase said Wednesday that she won't step down from hearing the case because she remains impartial.

PSC Commissioner Katrina McMurrian ruled that a citizen's demand that she recuse herself was ``legally insufficient'' and based on ``speculative and tenuous'' information that failed to show she was biased.

Unless McMurrian's ruling is appealed, the testimony in the $1.3 billion rate-increase case will continue but slowly -- FPL late Tuesday submitted 1,500 pages worth of corporate-jet flight logs with hundreds of names blacked out. The records showing how the utility is spending its money had been requested by commissioners as they consider whether FPL should be allowed a 30 percent rate increase. FPL estimates will have spent $32.5 million on the corporate plane use since 2006.
•
Public Service Commission lobbyist flagged for 'poor judgment'
Public Service Commission lobbyist flagged for 'poor judgment'

As state police investigate the Public Service Commission for possible ethics violations, an inspector general found Wednesday that the agency's lobbyist used ``poor judgment'' and may have violated rules by attending a party at the home of a Florida Power & Light executive during a pending rate case.

Although the PSC inspector general could not prove whether lobbyist Ryder Rudd broke PSC rules on gifts and communication by attending the Kentucky Derby party, a state senator and a PSC commissioner immediately called for his ouster.

``The inexcusable conduct of this employee undermines the public trust and confidence in the regulatory process and impugns the integrity of this commission,'' Commissioner Nathan Skop wrote in a statement. ``This is a clear cut ethics problem and perception issue.''
•
FPL Group profits jump 77 percent
FPL Group profits jump 77 percent

While Florida Power & Light seeks a billion-dollar increase in its basic rates, its parent company, FPL Group, reported a 77 percent increase in quarterly earnings Tuesday, driven partly by market hedges on energy contracts.

The utility reported a small decline in profit, caused by more empty homes due to foreclosure and lower customer usage as people tightened their belts during the recession. But that decline was more than compensated for by a good showing of the company's unregulated energy division.

Altogether, the energy giant earned a profit of $370 million, or 91 cents a share, compared with $209 million, or 52 cents a share, for the same period last year. Removing unusual one-time items, FPL Group executives said, earnings were $401 million for the quarter, up from $375 million last year.
•
Troubled PSC ignored past reforms
Troubled PSC ignored past reforms

For weeks, the Public Service Commission is pummeled with allegations: too-cozy relationships with the utilities it regulates, clandestine communications and undue influence by Florida Power & Light.

The accusations sound like the charges facing today's PSC. But it was 1992, when cellphones were the size of bricks and the Internet was still in its infancy.

A statewide grand jury recommended eight reforms to force the PSC and its staff to conduct all business with utilities in the open, with a written record or advance notice. Only one idea was enacted. The others -- some of which might have been able to address the issues bedeviling the PSC now -- were shelved.
By MARC CAPUTO
Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau

TALLAHASSEE -- The flights that Florida Power & Light officials took on their corporate jet have raised so many questions that Public Service Commissioner Nathan Skop on Thursday insisted the utility conduct an independent audit to ensure consumers aren't unfairly stuck with the tab.

Skop made the comments after combing through and questioning 1,500 pages of flight manifests submitted by FPL as it seeks a 30 percent rate increase.

The manifests indicated possible trips to the Kentucky Derby and other famed getaways.

``Obviously, I've expressed my concern and cast a significant shadow ... in relation to the numerous flights that I've mentioned,'' Skop said. ``It's very important to me that the rate payers of FPL are not being allocated costs that are not prudently incurred.''

FPL pledged to answer all questions and allay the concerns of Skop and any of the other four commissioners.

$32.5 MILLION

The flight records indicate that FPL, from 2006 through 2009, will have incurred $32.5 million in costs. Though that's a fraction of FPL's $1.7 billion annual operations and maintenance budget, the expense of the flights could have major implications in the utility's attempt to raise rates by $1.3 billion. Compared to flight logs, complicated concepts such as depreciation costs and financial models -- the meat of the hearings -- are far harder to grasp for commissioners and customers.

Big business groups, citizens, the attorney general's office and the state-paid Office of Public Counsel are all fighting the rate increase.

Thursday's hearing often returned to questions about the flight logs.

Consider the exchange between Cecilia Bradley, from the attorney general's office, and Armando Pimentel, the chief financial officer of FPL Group, which controls the utility.

Bradley asked about a flight to Louisville's airport in the first week of May 2006. On board: Lew Hay, chairman and CEO of FPL Group; James Robo, president and chief operating officer of the group, and relatives, possibly their wives. It was listed as a business expense.

``Wasn't that during the Kentucky Derby,'' she asked.

`I DON'T KNOW'

Pimentel, who does not oversee flight operations directly, stammered: ``I don't know.''

Bradley also asked about a flight to Green Bay, wondering if it had a football connection.

Pimentel said he didn't know. He said the company has a review process to ensure the planes are used properly. He said he did remember flights he was on, such as a trip to Scottsdale, Ariz., where FPL officials met with investors.

Shortly after Bradley asked about Green Bay, an FPL spokesman, Mark Bubriski, e-mailed reporters to point out that an FPL Group affiliate, NextEra, owns a nearby nuclear plant.

Asked about the Kentucky Derby, Bubriski said all the questions that Skop had raised about the flights will soon be answered in a company filing.

In the flight manifests, FPL blacked out most of the NextEra employees' names because the affiliate is separate from the utility and has nothing to do with the rate case. NextEra employee names were the only ones blacked out, Bubriski said. Disclosing the NextEra names, FPL says, would tip off competitors and put NextEra at an unfair disadvantage.

OTHER DESTINATIONS

But even on flight logs that weren't blacked out, Skop had noted flights to Martha's Vineyard, Bermuda, Napa County in California and the golf mecca of Augusta, Ga.

Also, lobbyists and politicians sometimes flew, apparently at customer expense. Skop said many of the flights were likely legitimate, but he wanted more explanation.

``All FPL aircraft use serves an important business purpose or the costs are reimbursed appropriately,'' Bubriski said in an e-mail. ``We have provided flight logs and manifests to the commission and are certainly prepared to answer any questions commissioners may have.''

The FPL rate hearing will continue Oct. 21.

[mx-5]

this is nothing more than total and complete ARROGANCE..if all this is true they all (HEY,ROBO,OLIVERA ETC) should not only be "pursuing other interest's" but pay this money back and give a public apology to the customers they stole from...this corporate greed is completely out of control..

[lineman641]

KNEE’S, great job on the info you have been posting. MX-5, you are right on with that last post. The executives of the company feel like they are way above the rest of us working humans.

The way I see things right now is this company has no respect for any of their employees. Not the ones that just hired on or the ones that have been here 40 years. Take a look at any money site and go to insider trading at F.P.L .. Look at the money these executives are getting. They will take as much as they can and leave someone else to fix it. History shows this. They got theirs so why do they care. Greed at its finest.

I want to thank Gary and the committee for all the work they have done to bring this membership together. All The members are tired of getting shat on and are ready to do what it takes for a fair contract. The vote counts have shown that. I wonder if the company is willing to spend 50 million $ to save 5 mill $. That is their mentality. Will common sense ever come in to play? Will they ever treat their own people with respect? Do they think they will ever be able to hire a qualified employee again? Probably not….. ………the phone is ringing again, go figure?


STAY STRONG BROTHERS AND SISTERS!!!

[mx-5]

the answer to all your questions is...no,no and HELL NO...these arrogant greedy no good bastards are following the wall street mentality.."all for us none for everyone else"..just remember who brought lew hay in......

[fpl759]

Well, we were given a heads up today on what will be in our offer book come Tuesday. The copays on our health insurance will increase depending on your plan but supposedly everything else stays the same, only $750 for retro (a slap in the face), a $200 FR allowance now (but I beleive in 2010 you will need FR pants), and an increase of 8.75 percent over the 3 years which still doesn't reach the National Average. Also the harassment and new expectations will stay the same. With a passing contract they could then lay off the 200 or so employees who they don't think they need anymore. VOTE NO!

[mx-5]

if this is true this is not only a slap in the face but an f-u to the union..8.75 for 3 years,are you kidding..still screwing with the insurance and $750 retro...while these executives are spending 30+million on personal use of the corporate jets,taking friends and family to the Kentucky derby,California etc,etc...no respect.....tell them to stick it up their ass...