At the heart of the debate are skyrocketing electric bills and growing frustration from residents.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It’s a conversation that’s been brewing for years — but now, St. Petersburg could be inching closer to a major shakeup in who powers the city.

At the heart of the debate: skyrocketing electric bills and growing frustration from residents.

“We know the cost continues to go up every year, and there are a number of people who struggle to pay their power bills,” St. Pete City Council Member Corey Givens Jr. said. “That’s why we want to explore a public utility option.”

Currently, the city is under contract with Duke Energy, but with that agreement set to expire in 2026, city leaders are weighing whether to renew it or walk away.

During a recent meeting, council members questioned Duke directly.

“Has Duke gone on record to say they’re willing to lower rates if that means renegotiating a new agreement?” one asked.

A Duke Energy representative responded bluntly: “We cannot have a separate rate for the city of St. Petersburg or Winter Garden. All of our rates are set across the 35 counties and 119 cities we serve.”

The response hasn’t satisfied many residents — hundreds have already signed a petition urging the city to cut ties with Duke.

But the council remains split.

Givens is urging caution, pointing to a similar study already underway in Clearwater. He says the city should wait to see the outcome before spending taxpayer money on a duplicate study.

“We need to pump the brakes and at least find out what’s going to happen in Clearwater, analyze that, and weigh the pros and cons before we move forward as a city.”

Other members say there’s no time to waste.

“I heard my colleague say pump the brakes. I don’t think we have time to pump the brakes,” Council Member Brandi Gabbard said. “The contract expires in August 2026. That’s exactly one year from now.”

If St. Pete moves forward, the city could form its own public utility, a major move that would give local leaders more control over electric rates and billing structures.

The issue is far from settled. But the vote by the city’s sustainability committee — 2–1 in favor of drafting a resolution to request bids — signals momentum behind the idea.

For now, the future of St. Pete’s power remains uncertain, but residents and leaders alike agree: change is on the table.