Duke Energy Florida, formerly Florida Power, was the generation, transmission, and distribution sector of Florida Progress Corporation. The company distributed power over much of central and north Florida. Their service area covers approximately 13,000 square miles. Along with that, the company supplies electric service to approximately 1.8 million residential, commercial and industrial customers in the state. Florida Progress merged with Carolina Power & Light in 2000 to form Progress Energy. Progress Energy merged with Duke Energy in 2012. Today the Florida operations operate as Duke Energy Florida.
History
In 1899, Frank A. Davis starts the St. Petersburg Electric Light and Power Company. He open this company in St. Petersburg, Florida when it was just newly founded. The company served Florida residence with electricity. In 1911 they started offering 24 hour service to their customers. Over time the company did go through some name changes, but in 1927 St. Petersburg Electric Light and Power Company became Florida Power Corporation. Reddy Kilowatt became the company’s mascot in In 1939. The Honner family receives free television from Florida Power Corporation in 1952 in celebration of the company installing its 200,000 meter. In 1963, the company installs a specially designed underwater cable in the Gulf of Mexico. It was believed to be the longest one-piece installation in Florida back then. Land is also purchased to build their first nuclear power plant in Citrus County. Andrew H. Hines is announced as the company’s president in 1972. In 1977, the nuclear power plant is finally built in Citrus County. In 1982, in the hopes of the company diversifying beyond utility operations, Florida Progress is formed as a holding company with them. Louie the Lighting Bug becomes the mascot for their television ads in 1983. The company starts serving 1 million customers in 1986. In 1999, the company celebrates their 100 year anniversary. In 2000, Florida Progress merged with Carolina Power & Light in 2000. Together they formed Progress Energy Corporation. Progress Energy Corporation merged with Duke Energy in 2012.
Future Projects
On March 25, 2019, Duke Energy Florida announced the new locations of where they will be putting their newest universal solar power plants. The company announced that these solar power plants will provide cleaner and smarter energy solutions, which will be beneficial to their Florida customers. The three locations are Lake Placid in Highlands County, Trenton in Gilchrist County, and DeBary in Volusia County. Duke Energy Florida is predicting that these three solar plants will eliminate nearly 800 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions in Florida each year upon commercial operation.
