Local organizers have launched the “Dump Duke” campaign, aiming to build public pressure on city officials to explore a municipal takeover of electric services.

Dozens of residents gathered at Gladden Park Recreation Center recently, sitting on folding chairs and eating barbecue as they listened to activists and city leaders lay out a bold proposal: replace Duke Energy with a city-run electric utility.

The grassroots campaign, dubbed “Dump Duke,” is just getting off the ground. Organizers are fundraising and canvassing neighborhoods in hopes of persuading St. Petersburg officials to consider forming a municipal utility. The city’s longstanding agreement with Duke is up for renewal next summer—the first opportunity in 30 years for a major shift in how electricity is delivered.

While neighboring Clearwater has already commissioned a feasibility study in preparation for a similar decision, St. Petersburg has not yet taken formal steps. Council member Richie Floyd, speaking at the March 29 event, urged residents to contact their representatives and Mayor Ken Welch to request a similar study.

“This won’t be an easy fight,” Floyd said, pointing to the likelihood of legal battles over Duke’s infrastructure. “But it’s a fight worth having if it means more control for residents and potentially lower rates.”

He emphasized that under a city-run system, voters could hold decision-makers accountable—something not possible with a private corporation driven by shareholder profits.

“We can’t promise it’ll be all sunshine and rainbows,” Floyd said. “But what we can promise is that your voice will count in ways it simply doesn’t now.”

The idea of municipalization has been percolating in City Hall for over a year, first raised by Council member Brandi Gabbard. Mayor Welch has taken a more cautious stance, calling for a detailed cost-benefit analysis. A former accountant for Florida Power Corp.—which eventually became Duke Energy—Welch even issued a proclamation last year praising Duke and designating July 18, 2024, as “Duke Energy Day,” a move that drew criticism from some council members.

Public interest in the issue spiked last year after Duke Energy finalized a $262 million base rate increase spread over three years. More recently, regulators approved an additional monthly surcharge of about $32 to help the company recover hurricane-related expenses.

“How do we keep paying to strengthen the grid, only to have it destroyed in a storm and then be billed again?” asked Susan Glickman, a panelist at the event and vice president at the CLEO Institute, an environmental nonprofit. Her remarks drew nods of agreement from the crowd.

In response, Duke Energy defended its relationship with the city. Spokesperson Ana Gibbs said that regardless of the franchise agreement, the company remains the designated utility provider under state regulations.

“The franchise agreement is just one element of our relationship with St. Pete,” Gibbs said. “We remain committed to our customers and continue to collaborate with the city on projects and community needs.”

Many attendees left the event intrigued by the possibility of change but said they still had questions.

“The more I hear, the more appealing it sounds,” said Scott Turner, 62, a retired mail carrier from Oldsmar who grew up in St. Petersburg. “But I’d still like to hear more about the potential downsides.”

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