Duke Energy Florida has completed upgrades at the Bartow Power Plant in St. Petersburg and two units at the Hines Energy Complex in Bartow, enabling these facilities to generate an additional 255 megawatts (MW) of energy without increasing fuel consumption. These improvements are part of a broader initiative that also includes earlier capacity enhancements at the Osprey Energy Center in Auburndale and the Citrus Combined Cycle Station in Crystal River.
The combined efforts have added more than 330 MW of capacity to Duke Energy Florida’s system, which is equivalent to the output of a small power plant. The company estimates that these projects will result in $340 million in annual fuel savings for customers. Because Duke Energy Florida passes fuel costs directly to its customers, average monthly bills have been reduced by about $10 as a result of these upgrades.
In addition to lower bills, customers saved an extra $70 million in 2025 due to decreased reliance on purchasing additional power. The company also reports that its annual carbon emissions have been reduced by 325,000 tons as a result of these efficiency measures.
Looking ahead, Duke Energy Florida plans to complete further upgrades by early 2027, which are expected to add more than 450 MW to the grid. The next phase will focus on additional units at the Citrus Combined Cycle Station and the Tiger Bay Power Plant in Fort Meade.
Melissa Seixas, state president for Duke Energy Florida, stated: “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. 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 notes that efficient natural gas plants help keep residential customer costs about 12% below the national average. The flexibility of natural gas generation allows quick responses to changes in energy demand and supports greater integration of renewable energy sources across Florida.
Duke Energy Florida serves approximately two million customers across a 13,000-square-mile area and owns 12,300 MW of energy capacity. Its parent company, Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), is based in Charlotte, North Carolina and provides electric utilities service to over eight million customers across six states.
More information can be found at duke-energy.com and through Duke Energy’s social media channels.
