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Florida Power and Light is thumbing its nose at the Public Service Commission and says it will raise its rates by 900 million dollars on January 4th. That�s a week before the PSC decides if the company deserves the rate hike. As Whitney Ray tells us, the announcement comes as Governor Charlie Crist considers dethroning two of the five commissioners.

The electric bills of four million Florida Power and Light customers will go up January 4th, even though the PSC won�t have yet ruled if the hike is justified. Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink is outraged at the company�s brazen decision.

�It�s just unnecessary and outrageous in my opinion. We are in the middle of the biggest recession, the decision hasn�t been made. They should wait until the decision�s made by the PSC before they decided to take action,� said Sink.

Two of the five members on the Public Service Commission are up for reappointment. Governor Charlie Crist has said how they vote could determine if they stay on the job. The commission is fighting back.

In an attempt to influence the governor�s decision the PSC moved back the FP&L rate hike, that way any changes the governor made to the commission would go into effect right before the vote.

Governor Crist, who has until Saturday to make a decision, says he�s not concerned about the short turn around.

�I don�t know if they are going to be new. I haven�t predetermined anything yet. But if they do have to be new, I imagine they will have to study up,� said Crist.

If FPL goes through with the rate hike, it will have to give customers refunds if the utility doesn�t get everything it wants. Governor Charlie Crist made special arrangements to meet with one of six people biding for the two PSC positions. Crist will meet with David Klement, the director of the Institute for Public Policy and Leadership at USF, at 5:30 (ET) Tuesday.