A group of St. Petersburg residents wants voters — not city leaders — to decide whether the city should break away from Duke Energy and create its own municipal electric utility.
The group, called Public Power St. Pete, announced Wednesday that it has officially begun the process of gathering signatures for a proposed charter amendment that would put the question before voters in 2028.
The group is aiming to collect roughly 20,000 to 25,000 signatures by the middle of 2027.
“We believe a decision of that magnitude should not be made behind closed doors by politicians and utility executives, but instead decided by the people of St. Pete,” said Jason Scott with Dump Duke and Public Power St. Pete.
The group is a coalition of advocacy groups, including Dump Duke, Florida Rising, the CLEO Institute, Sierra Club, Florida Rising, Florida Youth Action Fund and People Power for Florida.
The petition comes after roughly two years of debate over St. Petersburg’s future with Duke Energy.
St. Petersburg has already begun its own examination of whether it could leave Duke and operate a city-run electric utility.
In June, city council voted to spend $590,000 on a feasibility study examining what it would take for the city to take over its electric system. The results are expected in 2027.
The city’s existing franchise agreement with Duke technically expired July 31, but the agreement remains in effect while the city determines its next steps.
Duke Energy recently commissioned its own study examining what would happen if St. Petersburg attempted to take over the company’s electric infrastructure.
That study found the city would have to acquire Duke’s system through eminent domain and estimated the cost could reach $4 billion.
Duke says such a takeover would be financially irresponsible and could ultimately leave residents paying through higher taxes and fees or reduced public services.
“This study makes clear a government takeover of St. Petersburg’s electric service is unaffordable and irresponsible,” Ana Gibbs, director of communications and public affairs for Duke Energy Florida, said in a statement.
Duke also says it has provided reliable electric service in St. Petersburg for decades and that it remains committed to serving customers as the city continues studying the proposal.
Supporters of municipal power say they don’t believe the $4 billion estimate should be taken at face value.
Scott pointed to a previous study commissioned in Clearwater, where he said a consultant estimated the cost of acquiring Duke’s system at more than $1 billion. He said a later certified appraisal put the buyout package at about $265 million.
But others question whether St. Pete could afford any price of that magnitude.
“Whether it’s $4 billion, $2 billion, or $1 billion, it’s a lot of money, and it’s money the city probably doesn’t have,” said Jason Mathis, CEO of the St. Pete Downtown Partnership.
Mathis said he also has concerns about the complexity of creating and operating a municipal utility.
“I don’t have a lot of confidence in the city’s ability to run an electric system,” he said.
The petition effort could continue even if the city reaches another agreement with Duke before the 2028 election. The organizers say even if the city and Duke reach an agreement, the city would still be required to pursue the transition to a municipal utility if voters vote for it.