St. Petersburg Grassroots Organizations Launch Petition to Put Public Power on the 2028 Ballot

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA— On September 2, 2026, a coalition of grassroots organizations announced the launch of a citywide petition campaign to place a charter amendment on the 2028 ballot to allow voters in St. Petersburg, Florida, to vote on establishing a municipal electric utility.

If successful, the initiative would give voters the opportunity to decide whether the city should create a publicly owned electric utility rather than continuing to rely on Duke Energy, an investor-owned utility that currently holds exclusive rights to sell electricity in St. Pete.

Brianna Gutierrez, genCLEO’s Lead Organizer at USF St. Pete, said “Duke Energy operates as a monopoly, up until now we have not been able to choose our energy provider. This petition is about letting residents choose between sticking with an investor-owned utility or following the lead of over 30 other cities that sell electricity at about 20% lower rates than Duke.”

Campaign organizers say the petition effort is focused on giving residents a greater voice in how their electricity is produced, priced, and managed.

Municipal electric utilities are publicly owned utilities operated by local governments. Investor-owned utilities, such as Duke Energy, have shareholders that own the company and its goal is to earn profits for investors. It is privately owned and operates as a regulated monopoly in St. Petersburg, meaning customers cannot choose another electric provider. Duke Energy’s energy mix is 90% fossil fuels, and its rates are approved by state regulators, with no say from its customers, resulting in some of the highest utility rates in the state.

Dump Duke Organizer Jason Scott said “It’s time to put St. Pete’s energy future in the hands of the people. Having public power here would mean lower bills, greater reliability, and local control. This ballot measure would give St. Pete voters the opportunity to decide the future of our electric system for themselves, rather than leaving it to be decided by politicians and executives behind closed doors.”

Supporters of municipal electric utilities say these systems can allow communities to prioritize local clean energy goals, infrastructure investments, and long-term planning through decisions made by local customers and elected officials. Residents will have a direct say on providing power to data centers, underground powerlines, and how the City invests in clean energy opportunities.

The petition campaign will collect signatures from registered voters across St. Petersburg. Organizers say the campaign will focus on educating residents about how municipal utilities operate and what the transition process could look like.

Residents interested in learning more or signing the petition can visit: www.PublicPowerStPete.com

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About Dump Duke: Dump Duke is a grassroots campaign advocating for public power and a more affordable, reliable, and locally controlled energy future in St. Petersburg. The campaign works to hold Duke Energy accountable, educate residents, and build community support for transitioning to a locally owned public electric utility.

About FL Youth Action Fund: Florida Youth Action Fund is the largest youth-led organization in the Sunshine state, empowering thousands of member-leaders to get trained, build power, and win real change in their communities. We have a new vision for Florida: one that is safer, more affordable, and more free for all.

About People Power for Florida: People Power for Florida is a nonpartisan youth-led civic engagement organization focused on increasing youth civic participation through voter registration, voter education, issue advocacy, and leadership development.

About Florida Rising: Florida Rising is a people-powered nonprofit organization made up of members advancing economic and racial justice across Florida, working to build independent political power that centers historically marginalized communities so everyday Floridians shape their future.

About Sierra Club-Suncoast Chapter: Suncoast Sierra Club is a volunteer run organization that partners with diverse stakeholders to preserve vital natural resources and to promote a just transition to an affordable clean energy economy in Pinellas County.

About The CLEO Institute: The CLEO Institute drives urgent climate action across all generations, industries, and party lines through education and advocacy work across Florida.