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 255 megawatts (MW) of additional energy without increasing fuel consumption. These improvements are part of a broader effort that also includes previous enhancements at the Osprey Energy Center in Auburndale and the Citrus Combined Cycle Station in Crystal River, resulting in a total capacity increase of over 330 MW.
According to Duke Energy Florida, these projects have been implemented at four natural gas plants across the state. The company estimates that more than 330 MW have been added to the electric grid, which is roughly equivalent to the output of a small power plant. This expansion is expected to yield approximately $340 million in annual fuel savings for customers.
Because Duke Energy Florida passes fuel costs directly to its customers and does not profit from them, these savings have led to an average monthly bill reduction of about $10 per customer. Additionally, customers saved an extra $70 million in 2025 by reducing the need for purchased power.
The company intends to complete further upgrades by early 2027, aiming to add more than 450 MW of capacity. Upcoming work will focus on additional units at the Citrus Combined Cycle Station and the Tiger Bay Power Plant in Fort Meade.
These efforts have also reduced Duke Energy Florida’s annual carbon emissions by 325,000 tons.
“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 reports that efficient natural gas plants help keep residential customer costs about 12% below the national average. The company notes that its ability to quickly adjust natural gas plant output helps meet spikes in energy demand and supports integration of renewable energy sources throughout Florida.
Duke Energy Florida operates as a subsidiary of Duke Energy and owns 12,300 MW of capacity. It provides electricity to two million customers across a service area covering 13,000 square miles within Florida.
Duke Energy is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The parent company serves 8.4 million electric utility customers across six states and owns a total generation capacity of 54,800 MW nationwide.
More information about Duke Energy Florida’s power plants can be found on its website.
