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RESOLUTION 2011 = 026 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY , FLORIDA , SETTING FORTH THE BOARD ' S POSITION ON CERTAIN ISSUES RELATING TO CITY OF VERO BEACH ELECTRIC SYSTEM WHEREAS , on November 3 , 1981 , the Florida Public Service Commission ( " PSC " ) approved a Territorial Agreement between the City of Vero Beach ( " City " ) and Florida Power & Light ( " FPL " ) which established electric service areas for the City and FPL in Indian River County . Specifically , the electric service area for the City was defined to include the City itself, the Town of Indian River Shores , the south barrier island , and other unincorporated areas of the County , and the service area for FPL was defined to include all other areas of the County ; and WHEREAS , the demographics of Indian River County have changed significantly since approval of the Territorial Agreement . In 1981 , approximately 10 % of the City ' s customers were located outside City limits ( " non - resident customers " ) . Today approximately 61 % of the City' s customers are non - resident customers . Specifically , the City has approximately 34 , 000 total customers , of which approximately 21 , 000 are non - resident customers . This percentage of non - resident customers ( 61 % ) is believed to be the highest percentage of any municipal electric system in Florida ; and WHEREAS , the City ' s rates on average over the past ten years have been 23 % higher than FPL ' s rates , resulting in a substantial rate disparity for County residents served by the City , compared to those served by FPL . Current residential rates per 1000 KWH , as set forth in the most recently available data , are 22 . 1 % higher than FPL ' s rates . When the rate disparity is applied to all City customers ( resident customers and non - resident customers ) , approximately $ 16 , 000 , 000 in additional electric charges are paid each year compared to the amount customers would pay if served by FPL . Approximately $ 9 , 760 , 000 of this amount ( 61 % ) is paid by non - resident customers . These additional payments take substantial funds out of the private sector of the local economy and have a negative impact on economic development and recovery efforts in Indian River County ; and WHEREAS , the City uses its electric system to subsidize its general fund and reduce taxes for City residents . Specifically , the City transfers approximately $ 6 , 000 , 000 from its electric system to its general fund each year . Non - resident customers pay approximately $ 3 , 660 , 000 of this amount (61 % ) , resulting in a form of "taxation without representation " ; and