Vote NO on Amendment 1 to the Florida Constitution

I am voting NO on Amendment 1 to the Florida Constitution not because I have solar panels, I do not. I oppose it because:

It is deceptive; it first promises you a right you already have and then subtly removes a right you current enjoy. The reason it is confusing to read is that if its promoters made it clear,  you would never vote for it.

Amendment 1 is not the result of citizens action that grew out of need, but the result of  corporate interest that grew out of greed. The so-called consumer advocacy group promoting Amendment 1 "the Consumers for Smart Solar", is not funded by consumers, but by the large power corporations who hold a monopoly on our electricity and seek to keep it. It contains one part bait and one part trap.

The first section of the amendment is the bait. Amendment 1 promises to constitutionally protect your right to have solar panels on your house. Sound good, right?  However, this is a right that we already have and one already protected by Florida Law. An  ActionNewsJax report compares it to a Constitutional right to own a couch. This first section was clearly added to get people to vote for the amendment and to obscure the real objective, which is in the second part.

 The second section is what has the power companies pouring million into the deceptively named PAC called "Consumers for Smart Solar" a group who's sole propose is to get Amendment 1 passed.  The Amendment cites subsidies to solar homes, which may include Tax credits and other incentives. However, that is not the purpose of amendment 1. The big power companies are pushing amendment to get the following results.

Amendment 1 essentially ends net-metering, where homeowners with solar panels can sell excess power back to the power company. This is in spite of the fact that net-metering homes provide much needed capacity during peak hours and reduces the need for expensive power plants. The Power companies sees self-sustaining homes as a threat, seek to keep homeowners dependant on their product

Amendment 1 will allow the power companies to equate less profit from one homeowner as a subsidy paid to another homeowner. The power companies seem to be arguing that their monopoly status entitles them to a set an amount of profit from every homeowner. They will demand that owners of solar homes, should pay  a surcharge to stay connected to the grid. The surcharges will be granted because big power seems to run the Florida Public Service Commission.

Power companies are funding and pushing Amendment 1 to help the power companies not their customers. Vote No on Amendment 1 to the Florida Constitution.