Utility costs on Florida voters' minds in 2026, report says
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Ahead of this year's midterm elections, a new report predicts that energy affordability could emerge as a top concern among voters in Florida.
Why it matters: Voters in November will elect a new governor and decide whether to give GOP Sen. Ashley Moody her first full term.
- They'll also decide a slew of federal, state and local races.
Driving the news: The report by Echo Communications Advisors, a public affairs firm focused on energy and climate, called Florida one of the 10 "energy affordability battlegrounds" for 2026.
- It said it identified battlegrounds based on energy costs, data center proliferation, political stakes and campaign messaging.
What they're saying: "[Utility affordability] is becoming more of a kitchen table item for families," Maria Claudia Schubert-Fontes, climate justice programs manager at Catalyst Miami, told Axios.
- While it's becoming a source of anxiety across classes, it's especially true for South Florida's seniors and those with fixed incomes, she said.
State of play: In November, the Florida Public Service Commission approved a contentious $7 billion rate increase for Florida Power & Light, which opponents call the largest hike in U.S. history.
- The state's dominant electric service provider had argued the increase was still below the national average and was needed to make "smart investments in the grid and new generation resources."
- Community organizations, including Catalyst, argued the hike placed an unfair burden on residents already struggling with increased costs.
Zoom in: According to the Echo report, the "proliferation of data centers is now inextricably linked to voter perceptions of rising cost" — including in Florida.
- Per the report, Florida is in the top 10 nationally for existing data centers, with 126 in operation and 15 either planned or proposed.
- A proposed data center in St. Lucie County on the Treasure Coast was met with opposition from residents who feared it could pollute the region and increase utility rates, TCPalm reported.
The intrigue: Concerns about energy affordability and rising electric costs were prominent themes among lawmakers during last month's annual Republican Party of Florida meeting, Florida Politics reported.
- Meanwhile, DeSantis has raised concerns about AI expansion, and a bill aimed at restricting large data centers is moving through the Legislature.
The bottom line: "Floridians are having to make trade-offs," and as a result, "we're seeing candidates pop up who are talking about utility specifically," Schubert-Fontes said.
- "We've been hearing [about affordability]," she said, "but [now] it becomes a question of who is able to stay in Florida if these increases continue."
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to remove unclear estimates concerning recent past increases.