Rural Electric Cooperatives

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text amends the previous reference from specific subsections (b)-(e) to the broader 'section 366.032(1)', expanding the scope of protected fuel sources, but does not define those sources within this document.

Limits on Fees and Rules by Rural Electric Cooperatives

This law stops rural electric cooperatives from charging fees or making rules that block customers from using certain energy sources or appliances allowed under state law.

What This Bill Does

• Prohibits retail electricity cooperatives from adopting, enacting, or enforcing specific fees like lot fees, developer fees, or surcharges if they restrict approved energy choices.
• Bans bylaws, tariffs, policies, or other actions that prevent the use of fuel sources allowed under state law section 366.032(1).
• Stops cooperatives from restricting appliances such as stoves or grills that use approved types of energy production.
• Defines an appliance as a device designed to use energy for which the Florida Building Code or Fire Prevention Code provides specific requirements.

Who It Names or Affects

• Rural electric cooperatives that sell electricity directly to customers at retail prices.
• Customers who want to choose their own fuel sources for energy production allowed under state law.
• Entities authorized under section 366.032(1) of the Florida Statutes.

Terms To Know

Retail electricity cooperative

A business that sells electric power directly to customers at retail prices, as defined in this law.

Tariff

An official rule or policy set by the utility regarding service conditions and fees.

Limits and Unknowns

• The text refers to section 366.032(1) but does not list exactly which fuel sources are included in that section.
• The law does not explain what happens if a cooperative breaks these new rules.

Official Summary Text

Rural Electric Cooperatives; Prohibits cooperative that sells electricity at retail from adopting, enacting, or enforcing fee meeting specified criteria; revises applicability of such prohibition on types or fuel sources of energy production which may be used, delivered, converted, or supplied by specified entities.

Current Bill Text

HB 379 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb379-00
Page 1 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to rural electric cooperatives; 2
amending s. 425.041, F.S.; prohibiting a cooperative 3
that sells electricity at retail from adopting, 4
enacting, or enforcing a fee meeting specified 5
criteria; revising the applicability of such 6
prohibition on the types or fuel sources of energy 7
production which may be used, delivered, converted, or 8
supplied by specified entities; providing an effective 9
date. 10
11
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 12
13
Section 1. Section 425.041, Florida Statutes, is amended 14
to read: 15
425.041 Prohibited fees, bylaws, tariffs, and policies.—A 16
cooperative which sells electricity at retail may not adopt, 17
enact, or enforce any fee, including a lot fee, developer fee, 18
or surcharge, or any bylaw, tariff, or policy, or take any other 19
action, that restricts or prohibits or has the effect of 20
restricting or prohibiting: 21
(1) The types or fuel sources of energy production which 22
may be used, delivered, converted, or supplied by the entities 23
listed in s. 366.032(1)(b)-(e) s. 366.032 (1) to serve 24
customers that such entities are authorized to serve. 25

HB 379 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb379-00
Page 2 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

(2) The use of an appliance, including a stove or grill, 26
which uses the types or fuel sources of energy production which 27
may be used, delivered, converted, or supplied by the entities 28
listed in s. 366.032(1). As used in this subsection, the term 29
"appliance" means a device or apparatus manufactured and 30
designed to use energy and for which the Florida Building Code 31
or the Florida Fire Prevention Code provides specific 32
requirements. 33
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 34