FMEA is also active in dealing with federal and state agencies on regulatory issues. The Florida Municipal Electric Association's legislative team represents member cities' interests on a variety of state legislative issues in Tallahassee. At the local level, municipal utilities are governed either by a local city commission or an elected or appointed utility authority. Municipal utilities are subject to all Florida laws regarding public bodies, including open meetings laws, open records laws, and public bidding laws. No other type of utility invites as much public input or operates in such an open, democratic manner.
Important changes are underway in all utility industries.
An increasing emphasis on competition and deregulation offers municipal utilities new challenges, presenting new opportunities to serve their communities better. Municipal utilities believe that local communities should dictate their own future. Therefore, one major focus of public power's legislative efforts is to help communities maintain local control. We believe that local communities can best determine their own needs, and that state and federal legislation should support communities' independence, not undermine their infrastructure. Our monthly magazine, Relay, provides in-depth coverage of the issues and events that affect municipal and other utilities in Florida.