Duke Energy Florida has finished upgrades at its Bartow Power Plant in St. Petersburg and two units at the Hines Energy Complex in Bartow. These improvements enable the plants to generate an additional 255 megawatts (MW) of energy without increasing fuel use.
Combined with earlier projects—such as a 60-MW increase at Osprey Energy Center in Auburndale and a 16-MW boost at Citrus Combined Cycle Station in Crystal River—the company has added over 330 MW of capacity to its system. These enhancements are part of ongoing efforts to improve efficiency across Duke Energy Florida’s natural gas fleet.
The completed projects at four natural gas plants across the state have added more than 330 MW to the electric grid, which is roughly equal to the output of a small power plant. According to Duke Energy Florida, these changes have resulted in about $340 million in annual fuel savings for customers. The company passes fuel costs directly to customers without making a profit from them, resulting in an average monthly bill reduction of approximately $10 for customers. In addition, customers saved another $70 million in 2025 by reducing the need for purchased power.
Duke Energy Florida expects to complete further upgrades by early 2027, adding more than 450 MW of capacity. The next round will focus on additional units at Citrus Combined Cycle Station and Tiger Bay Power Plant in Fort Meade.
As a result of these initiatives, Duke Energy Florida reports that its annual carbon footprint has been reduced 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.”
The company notes that efficient natural gas plants help keep residential customer costs about 12% below the national average. The flexibility of these plants also allows Duke Energy Florida to respond quickly to changing energy demand and supports integrating more renewable energy sources across the state.
Duke Energy Florida operates as a subsidiary of Duke Energy and owns about 12,300 MW of energy capacity. It provides electricity to two million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a service area covering 13,000 square miles in Florida.
Duke Energy is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and serves electric utility customers across six states with a total capacity of nearly 54,800 MW. Its natural gas utilities serve customers in five states.
More information can be found on duke-energy.com or through the company’s social media channels.
