Sylvie Willis
Tampa Electric has supplied electricity to the Tampa Bay area since 1899 and currently serves around 860,000 customers. The company's electricity comes from fossil fuels, and its rates are regulated by the Florida Public Service Commission. While Tampa Electric's rates are set to decrease following a drop in fossil fuel costs, clean energy advocates argue that this is insignificant compared to the substantial increase in average bills over the years. Amid growing concerns about the environmental impact of fossil fuels, there are calls for Tampa Electric to transition to renewable energy sources.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Tampa Electric's energy source | Fossil fuels |
| Tampa Electric's service area | 2,000 square miles in West Central Florida, including Hillsborough County and parts of Polk, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties |
| Number of customers | 860,000 |
| Solar energy production capacity | 1,252 megawatts (1.25 gigawatts) |
| Projected solar energy production by the end of 2026 | 1,600 megawatts |
| Percentage of energy from solar by 2026 | 17% |
| Number of electric generating plants | 3 |
| Generating capability of electric plants | More than 5,000 MW |
| Peak winter load | 4,760 MW on January 11, 2010 |
| Peak summer load | 4,754 megawatts on August 9, 2023 |
| Rate change for customers in January | 11% decrease |
| Average bill increase since 2019 | 62% |
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What You'll Learn
Tampa Electric's fossil fuel costs
Tampa Electric (TECO) has supplied electricity to the Tampa Bay area since 1899. It currently serves about 2,000 square miles in West Central Florida, including Hillsborough County and parts of Polk, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties, serving about 860,000 customers.
Tampa Electric's peak demands occur in winter due to electric heating and summer due to air conditioning. An all-time winter peak load of 4,760 MW was recorded in January 2010, while an all-time summer peak load of 4,754 MW was set in August 2023. To meet these demands, Tampa Electric has three electric generating plants in service, with a generating capability of over 5,000 MW.
Tampa Electric's Big Bend Power Station is a key part of its operations. The station has a total generating capacity of more than 1,600 MW. Big Bend Unit 1 has been repowered with combined-cycle technology, eliminating coal as its fuel and becoming one of the most efficient generators in the nation. Units 2 and 3 are retired, while Unit 4 remains operational with coal or natural gas. The modernization of Unit 1 is expected to save customers over $700 million over its 30-year lifespan and is part of Tampa Electric's Net-Zero Carbon Vision for 2050 strategy to reduce carbon emissions.
Tampa Electric is also investing in renewable energy infrastructure. By the end of 2026, the company expects to have more than 1,600 MW of solar energy, powering about 260,000 homes. This will result in 17% of its energy being generated from solar, the highest percentage of any utility in Florida.
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Tampa Electric's energy generation from fossil fuels
Tampa Electric has supplied electricity to the Tampa Bay area since 1899 and currently serves around 860,000 customers across 2,000 square miles in West Central Florida. The company has three electric generating plants with a capacity of more than 5,000 MW. Tampa Electric's energy generation sources include fossil fuels, solar, and natural gas.
Tampa Electric's rates are influenced by the fluctuating costs of fossil fuels. In recent years, the average bill for customers has increased significantly, with a 62% rise since 2019. While there is a slight decrease expected in the coming year, clean energy advocates argue that this is a minimal change compared to the overall increase in rates.
Tampa Electric's generation of electricity from fossil fuels has been a point of contention, with critics arguing that the company is "paying more for the same dirty fossil fuels that are also at the same time driving us deeper into climate chaos." There have been calls for the company to phase out fossil fuels and transition to cleaner energy sources.
As part of its modernization project, Tampa Electric has made efforts to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. The Big Bend Power Station, which previously used coal as fuel, has been repowered with combined-cycle technology. Big Bend Unit 1 is now Tampa Electric's most efficient generator and no longer uses coal. The unit can produce 1,090 megawatts, powering over 250,000 homes. While Unit 4 of the Big Bend Power Station still operates with coal or natural gas, the modernization project aims to save customers over $700 million over its 30-year lifespan and aligns with Tampa Electric's Net-Zero Carbon Vision for 2050 strategy.
Tampa Electric is also investing in solar energy projects. By the end of 2026, the company expects to have more than 1,600 MW of solar capacity, powering approximately 260,000 homes. This will result in about 17% of its energy being generated from solar sources, making Tampa Electric the highest in the state in terms of the percentage of solar generation.
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Tampa Electric's solar energy projects
Tampa Electric has supplied the Tampa Bay area with electricity since 1899 and currently serves about 2,000 square miles in West Central Florida, including Hillsborough County and parts of Polk, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties, which include about 860,000 customers.
Tampa Electric's solar projects can produce 1,252 megawatts of electricity, or 1.25 gigawatts, which is enough to power over 200,000 homes. By the end of 2026, the company aims to have more than 1,600 MW of solar capacity, which will be able to serve 260,000 homes. Upon the completion of these projects, Tampa Electric will have about 17% of its energy generated from solar power—the highest percentage of solar generation of any utility in Florida.
Tampa Electric has made significant investments in its power stations, resulting in recognition as one of the cleanest electricity companies in the United States. The company has three electric generating plants in service, with a generating capability of over 5,000 MW.
Tampa Electric is committed to increasing its solar generation capacity and has a growing list of large-scale solar projects. With its current and future solar initiatives, the company is on a mission to generate even more power from the sun, further reducing its reliance on fossil fuels.
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Tampa Electric's Big Bend Power Station
Tampa Electric has been supplying electricity to the Tampa Bay area since 1899. The company serves about 2,000 square miles in West Central Florida, including Hillsborough County and parts of Polk, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties, serving around 860,000 customers.
Big Bend Unit 1 is Tampa Electric's most efficient generator and is one of the most efficient in the United States. It can produce 1,090 megawatts, enough to power 250,000 homes. Units 2 and 3 have been retired, while Unit 4 remains operational and can run on coal or natural gas. The unit uses pollution control equipment to reduce emissions from coal combustion, and the residuals from this process are reused in industries such as construction and agriculture.
Big Bend Power Station has a total generating capacity of more than 1,600 megawatts. As of 2023, Tampa Electric's generation portfolio consisted of 75% natural gas, 12% coal, 7% solar, and 6% other sources. The company is transitioning from coal to natural gas at this power station, with plans to move to 100% hydrogen by 2032.
The warm water discharge from the station during winter attracts West Indian manatees, an endangered species. In recognition of this, TECO set aside a manatee viewing area for the public in 1986.
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Tampa Electric's plans to phase out fossil fuels
Tampa Electric has supplied electricity to the Tampa Bay area since 1899 and currently serves about 2,000 square miles in West Central Florida, including Hillsborough County and parts of Polk, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties. This includes about 860,000 customers. While Tampa Electric's energy sources include fossil fuels, the company has taken steps toward reducing its reliance on them and increasing the use of renewable energy sources.
Tampa Electric's solar projects currently produce 1,252 megawatts of electricity, or 1.25 gigawatts, which is enough to power over 200,000 homes. By the end of 2026, the company aims to have more than 1,600 MW of solar energy, which will be able to serve 260,000 homes. This increase in solar energy will result in about 17% of Tampa Electric's energy being generated from solar sources, making it the highest percentage of solar generation of any utility in Florida.
Tampa Electric's Big Bend Power Station is also part of the company's efforts to reduce its carbon emissions. The modernization of Big Bend Unit 1 eliminated coal as its fuel, and it is now Tampa Electric's most efficient generator and one of the most efficient in the nation. The unit can produce 1,090 megawatts, powering over 250,000 homes. While Unit 4 of the Big Bend Power Station still operates with coal or natural gas, the overall initiative is part of Tampa Electric's Net-Zero Carbon Vision for 2050 strategy, aiming to significantly change how electricity is generated to reduce carbon emissions.
In addition to Tampa Electric's own initiatives, there is external pressure from clean energy advocates and activists to phase out fossil fuels. Despite a slight decrease in Tampa Electric rates due to lower fossil fuel costs, bills for customers have significantly increased since 2019. Advocates argue that the use of fossil fuels contributes to climate chaos, and they are pushing for a comprehensive, affordable energy plan that includes phasing out fossil fuels and increasing energy efficiency.
While Tampa Electric has not specified a complete phase-out date for fossil fuels, their ongoing projects and initiatives indicate a clear shift towards renewable energy sources. The company's increasing investment in solar energy and modernization of power stations to reduce carbon emissions demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
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Frequently asked questions
Tampa Electric has committed to a Net-Zero Carbon Vision for 2050 strategy, which involves repowering its power stations with alternative energy sources. As part of this initiative, Tampa Electric's Big Bend Unit 1 has been repowered with combined-cycle technology, eliminating coal as its fuel. By the end of 2026, Tampa Electric aims to have about 17% of its energy generated from solar power, making it the highest percentage of solar generation of any utility in Florida.
Tampa Electric has a total generating capacity of more than 5,000 MW, with a large portion of this coming from fossil fuels. While the exact amount of electricity generated from fossil fuels is unclear, Tampa Electric has three electric generating plants in service and its Big Bend Power Station has a total generating capacity of more than 1,600 MW, with Unit 4 still in operation with coal or natural gas.
Tampa Electric is working to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and provide more affordable energy to its customers. In addition, the Florida Public Service Commission has approved an 11% rate drop for customers starting in January, following a decrease in the cost of fossil fuels over the past year. Tampa Electric is also encouraging the development of renewable energy infrastructure in the county.
