Responding to the frustrations expressed by local residents, the St. Petersburg City Council has taken a major step towards potentially jettisoning its longtime relationship with Duke Energy Florida and creating its own city-run electric utility.
The council voted 4-3 Thursday to spend up to $590,000 to hire Texas-based NewGen Strategies and Solutions to analyze whether it would be in the city’s best interests to leave Duke Energy and form its own municipal utility.
The decision to hire the consulting firm comes as the 30-year franchise agreement with Duke Energy is set to expire on Aug. 1…