Duke Energy Florida has completed efficiency upgrades at its Bartow Power Plant in St. Petersburg and two units at the Hines Energy Complex in Bartow, resulting in an additional 255 megawatts (MW) of energy production using the same amount of fuel. The improvements are part of a broader effort that includes previous upgrades at the Osprey Energy Center in Auburndale and the Citrus Combined Cycle Station in Crystal River, adding more than 330 MW of capacity to the company’s system.
These projects have been implemented across four natural gas plants throughout Florida. The added capacity is equivalent to the output of a small power plant and is estimated to result in $340 million in annual fuel savings for customers. Because Duke Energy Florida passes fuel costs directly to its customers without profiting from them, average monthly bills have decreased by about $10. In addition, these measures saved customers an extra $70 million in 2025 by reducing the need to purchase additional power.
Duke Energy Florida intends to continue this work through early 2027, with plans to add over 450 MW more to the grid. Upcoming projects will focus on further upgrades at the Citrus Combined Cycle Station and Tiger Bay Power Plant in Fort Meade.
The company reports that its annual carbon footprint has been reduced by 325,000 tons as a result of these efforts.
“Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, every single day, so we’re always looking for new, innovative ways to keep their costs as low as possible, while still providing the reliable, resilient power they need,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “We’re already reducing rates in early 2026, and these efficiency upgrades are just another tool in our toolbox – one that will have a lasting impact on their bills.”
Duke Energy Florida states that efficient natural gas plants help keep residential customer costs about 12% below the national average. These plants can be ramped up or down within minutes to meet changes in energy demand and support integration of renewable energy sources across Florida.
Duke Energy Florida is a subsidiary of Duke Energy and owns 12,300 MW of energy capacity serving approximately two million customers over a 13,000-square-mile area within Florida.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), based in Charlotte, North Carolina, is among America’s largest energy holding companies with electric utilities serving 8.4 million customers across six states and owning nearly 54,800 MW of capacity. Its natural gas operations serve about 1.7 million customers across five states.
The company continues investing in grid upgrades and cleaner generation technologies as part of its transition toward a smarter energy future.
More information can be found on duke-energy.com and related platforms.
