St. Petersburg Group Sought Municipal Utility Vote
A campaign has launched to place a public electric utility measure on the November 2028 ballot.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Utilities
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The Public Power St. Pete campaign has begun collecting signatures to authorize the creation of a municipal electric utility. If successful, the measure would replace Duke Energy with a locally governed electric provider in St. Petersburg.
Why it matters
Organizers hope that establishing a municipal utility will lower electricity costs and increase local control over energy decisions. The move follows the expiration of the city's agreement with Duke Energy in the summer of 2026.
The campaign needs approximately 16,200 valid signatures to qualify the initiative for the 2028 ballot. A Duke Energy-commissioned study estimated the local distribution system acquisition at $2.75 billion to $4.1 billion.
The players
Public Power St. Pete
This is a local coalition mobilizing residents to replace the current private electric provider with a municipal utility.
Duke Energy
This is a major electric power holding company that currently provides electricity services to the residents of St. Petersburg.
Florida Municipal Electric Association
This organization represents the interests of publicly owned electric utilities throughout the state of Florida.
The details
The proposed municipal utility would feature a five-member governing board consisting of three elected members and two appointees. The campaign is currently mobilizing local neighbors to secure signatures rather than relying on a paid petition firm.
Timeline
June 2025: The Florida Municipal Electric Association released utility bill comparison data.
January 2026: St. Petersburg issued a request for proposals to evaluate utility feasibility.
Summer 2026: The city's agreement with Duke Energy expired.
September 2026: Duke Energy released a study on acquisition costs.
November 2028: The ballot initiative is scheduled for the general election.
Market Landscape
This effort to establish a municipal utility follows the expiration of the 2026 agreement between St. Petersburg and Duke Energy. It reflects a broader trend of municipalities seeking greater autonomy from private power monopolies to achieve local policy goals like 100% clean energy by 2035.
If the initiative reaches the ballot and passes, residents may see shifts in their monthly electric bills based on public power models. The change would fundamentally alter how electricity is managed and regulated within the city.
The takeaway
Supporters are banking on public ownership to lower rates, citing data that public utilities often cost less than private counterparts. Residents should monitor the campaign's progress to understand how a potential utility transition would impact their household energy costs.
What happens next
The campaign must collect the required signatures by the deadlines established for the November 2028 general election cycle.
Further reading
For additional context on how city-run services operate, visit the St. Petersburg Utilities section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Prism.
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