FL H0399

Governor selects one Florida Public Service Commission member to serve as chair for a 2-year term beginning January 2, with prohibition on selecting the same person for two consecutive terms.

Prohibits ex parte communications between commissioners and other individuals regarding pending or reasonably anticipated commission proceedings, with exceptions for individual residential ratepayers, scheduled public meetings, and workshops.

Commissioners who knowingly fail to place ex parte communications on the record within 15 days are subject to removal and civil penalties up to $5,000.

Prohibits public utilities from recovering from customers any charges or expenses incurred in exploring, gathering, drilling, or producing oil or natural gas.

Effective date is July 1, 2015.