# St. Pete just voted to study breaking up with Duke Energy > St. Petersburg City Council approved a $590K study on forming its own electric utility. Here's what that means for residents and homeowners. **Canonical URL**: https://stpetehomeguide.com/blog/st-pete-duke-energy-municipal-utility-feasibility-study-2026 **Author**: Luke Salm **Published**: 2026-06-15 **Updated**: 2026-06-15 **Keywords**: St. Petersburg Duke Energy, municipal utility St. Pete, St. Pete electricity rates, Duke Energy franchise agreement, St. Petersburg city council 2026, Dump Duke St. Pete, Clearwater municipal utility There's a vote that flew a little under the radar earlier this month — but it could affect every single household in St. Petersburg. On June 4, the St. Pete City Council greenlighted a serious look at dumping Duke Energy and running the city's own electric utility. That's a big deal, and if you own or rent property in Pinellas County, it's worth paying attention to. ## What the council actually voted on The St. Petersburg City Council voted 4-3 to approve a $590,000 contract for a feasibility study examining whether the city should create its own municipal electric utility instead of continuing service through Duke Energy. The study won't flip a switch overnight — it's the first real step in a genuinely long process. But the vote itself was historically significant. The decision comes as St. Pete's 30-year franchise agreement with Duke Energy is set to expire on August 1. That's a once-in-a-generation opening. As Council member Richie Floyd put it during the meeting, "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. It's been 30 years. I was a small child last time this was decided." ## Why residents packed the chamber Over 100 people spoke during public comment, most of whom were in favor of the study. They cited the rare opportunity to explore other options with the contract ending and a need for more affordable utilities. The frustration is real — rising power bills have pushed residents to petition local leaders, demanding relief from skyrocketing electricity rates. Dozens of residents — professors, plumbers, a high school student, and even one man who said he was a former Duke employee — asked the council to approve the study, saying they're struggling to pay their electric bills. It wasn't a unanimous love-fest, though. Not all who testified supported funding the study. Several opponents said the city should not spend the money given the pending proposal to reduce the property taxes municipalities can collect. Duke Energy also made its case — Duke is pushing back, claiming that renewing its 30-year contract offers immediate benefits to customers. Their storm director noted that during the 2024 hurricane season, the company mobilized over 26,000 resources in response to Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton. ## What the study will actually examine The study, which will be conducted by NewGen Strategies and Solutions, will analyze the potential costs, savings, and legal hurdles involved in creating a city-run electric system. The eight-to-nine-month study will collect data, map out costs, and project potential savings for a municipal utility. St. Pete isn't going at this alone. The city of Clearwater, which is also considering leaving Duke, commissioned a similar study from the same consulting company, and it estimated that residents would save millions. Specifically, that analysis estimated customers could save about 10% on their electric bills during the first year of municipal ownership, with additional savings over time. The deciding vote was cast by Council Chair Lisset Hanewicz, who had previously opposed the idea. Hanewicz was the deciding vote — she had voted against a similar measure the previous year, but this time said the council needs more information to make an informed decision. "I voted no the first time, but I don't have the information," she said. "I'm for going with the feasibility study." ## What this means for St. Pete residents and homeowners I'll be honest — nobody should expect power bills to change before next summer, maybe longer. This is a study, not a switch being flipped. The results won't be in until early-to-mid 2027 at the earliest, and then Council would still have to decide whether to actually move forward with forming a municipal utility. That's a whole separate vote, with likely a whole separate set of fireworks. That said, the direction of travel matters. St. Pete residents are feeling cost pressure from multiple directions right now — insurance, property taxes, groceries, and yes, electric bills. A city-run utility that could shave even 10% off monthly power costs would be meaningful for a lot of households, especially those on fixed incomes in neighborhoods like [Historic Kenwood](/neighborhoods/historic-kenwood) or [Old Northeast](/neighborhoods/old-northeast) where older homes tend to run higher utility loads. For buyers scoping out Pinellas County right now, this is worth keeping an eye on. Energy costs are a real part of the monthly carrying cost conversation — and they factor into everything from affordability calculations to long-term [home value trends in St. Petersburg](/questions/st-petersburg-home-prices-2026). If this study comes back with strong savings projections, it's one more quality-of-life tailwind for the city. The study results are expected in roughly eight to nine months. I'll be watching, and I'll post an update when they land. --- *Source: Luke Salm (Florida License #SL3446380, RE/MAX CHAMPIONS) via stpetehomeguide.com. 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