$1.1 billion dollars of debt.

Can Clearwater afford government-controlled power?

City Hall is advancing a $1,100,000,000 plan to run the power system — and Clearwater taxpayers would pay the price.

Get the facts

  • Too Expensive

    Government-controlled power would saddle Clearwater with $1.1 billion in debt. That’s nearly $10,000 for every person in Clearwater.

  • Too Risky

    Running a power grid is complex and costly; shifting control to City Hall could jeopardize reliability during hurricanes and storms.

  • Wrong Priorities

    A city-run utility means more politics and less progress — when Clearwater should be investing in schools, roads, and services.

FAQs

  • The City Council is exploring the possibility of taking over Duke Energy’s electric utility service and operating it as a city-run power company. This would require the city to use eminent domain to seize ownership of all local power infrastructure and manage energy generation, distribution, and customer service.

  • An independent report estimates the takeover would cost around $1.1 billion. Covering that price tag would require the city to take on significant debt, costs that would likely fall to taxpayers.

  • There is no evidence that municipal control would improve reliability. In fact, the opposite is more likely. Duke Energy has extensive experience and resources to manage large-scale power restoration efforts, demonstrated most recently when the company mobilized 27,000 line workers in 2024 to restore power swiftly. Clearwater’s local government lacks the operational expertise, workforce, and infrastructure required to manage a system of this complexity, especially during emergencies.

  • Not according to Clearwater City Attorney, David Margolis, who says the public does not need to weigh in on a decision that could put the city into debt for generations to come.