An elected Public Service Commission?

Floridians would have one again if Attorney General Charlie Crist has his way. He plans to lead an effort to make PSC members elected officials. Right now the Commission appears to be a friend of the industries they are supposed to regulate.

I'm all for it, though I think Crist faces an uphill battle. The best way to make the change would be a statewide referendum in 2006. I wonder what the Post's editorial position will be on t his, they rail against the PSC on a regular basis. On the other hand, Schultz and company don't care much for Crist and has in the past supported appointments(like to the bench) over elections. Saying campaign contributions corrupt the process.

One note the commission used to be elected til 1978. The most famous comissioner was Paula Hawkins, a one-term US Senator from 1981-86.

Open Post- Don Surber, Bright & Early,

Calling the Public Service Commission ''a rubber stamp'' for utilities' proposals, Attorney General Charlie Crist announced Wednesday he will lead an effort to have the public elect PSC members.

Speaking at a press conference in Hialeah, Crist was supported by two legislators and Julio Robaina, the mayor of Hialeah and president of the Florida League of Cities.

At present, the five commissioners are selected to four-year terms by panels controlled by legislators, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate.

PSC spokesman Todd Brown said no commissioners were available for comment Wednesday afternoon. Florida Power & Light spokesman Bill Swank issued a brief statement: ``Whether the [PSC] is appointed or elected, FPL will remain focused on our primary mission of providing our customers with reliable, cost-effective electrical service.''

Crist, who is a Republican candidate for governor, said the proposed bill will probably have to wait until the 2006 legislative session.

Gov. Jeb Bush has called a special session for December, but said that proposed legislation involving the PSC and the utilities would be too complicated to do at that time.

Mayor Robaina, state Rep. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, and state Rep. Gustavo ''Gus'' Barreiro, R-Miami, all cited the way the PSC so readily granted FPL a 20 percent increase for energy surcharges and told consumers they will have to pay $1.68 a month for 2 ½ years to make up for the money FPL lost last year from three hurricanes hitting its area.

''The whole burden is on the consumers, not the shareholders,'' Barreiro complained.

Crist's proposal would forbid PSC candidates from accepting contributions from the utilities they regulate or people connected with the companies. And after their terms are over, commissioners would be prohibited from working for a utility for two years.

`THE POOR CONSUMER'

Crist did not mention FPL by name during his remarks. ''I'm not here to bash a company,'' he said. But ``the poor consumer can't go to Joe's power company across the street. . . . My heart bleeds for the consumer. Enough is enough. . . . Let the people have a voice.''

At present, Crist said, the appointed members constitute a ``public disservice commission.''

TOUGH ROAD AHEAD

The proposal faces a difficult road. Similar bills were introduced four times in the 1990s -- once by Crist when he was a senator. None passed.

At the press conference, the politicians were asked about whether they felt they could combat FPL's powerful array of 36 lobbyists, many of whom have close relationships with the Legislature's most influential members.

Robaina responded that the league represented 413 cities in the state and the utilities' power ``will not hinder our work in Tallahassee.''

Before 1978, the PSC was elected. After the Legislature changed the positions to an appointment process in which the lawmakers played a major role, electric utilities have become one of the top three industries contributing to legislative election campaigns.