>Earlier this year, the utility that serves both Thomas and Salvi, Florida Power & Light, applied for a rate increase that would have boosted bills for a typical South Florida resident by about 13% over the next four years.

That is quite a bit less than inflation over the past four years.

Florida rates average 14.98 ¢/kWh and FPL's average rates are 12.12¢/kWh, both below the US average of 17.47 ¢/kWh.