Duke Energy Florida has completed efficiency upgrades at the Bartow Power Plant in St. Petersburg and two units at the Hines Energy Complex in Bartow. These improvements allow the plants to generate an additional 255 megawatts (MW) of energy without increasing fuel consumption.
The upgrades are part of a broader initiative that also includes previous enhancements at the Osprey Energy Center in Auburndale and the Citrus Combined Cycle Station in Crystal River. In total, more than 330 MW of capacity have been added to Duke Energy Florida’s system so far.
These projects, now completed at four natural gas plants across Florida, add over 330 MW to the electric grid—equivalent to the output of a small power plant—and are expected to save customers about $340 million annually on fuel costs. Since Duke Energy Florida passes fuel costs directly to customers without profit, these savings have resulted in an average monthly bill reduction of approximately $10 for customers. Additionally, customers saved another $70 million in 2025 by reducing the need for purchased power.
The company plans to complete further upgrades by early 2027, which will add more than 450 MW to the grid. The next phase will focus on additional units at the Citrus Combined Cycle Station and Tiger Bay Power Plant in Fort Meade.
Duke Energy Florida reports that its annual carbon footprint has been reduced by 325,000 tons as a result of these efforts.
Melissa Seixas, state president for Duke Energy Florida, stated: “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. 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.”
According to Duke Energy Florida, efficient natural gas plants help keep residential customer costs about 12% below the national average. The company also notes that natural gas plants can quickly adjust output to meet changing energy demand and support integration of renewable energy sources across Florida.
Duke Energy Florida is a subsidiary of Duke Energy and owns 12,300 MW of energy capacity. It supplies electricity to two million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a service area covering 13,000 square miles in Florida.
Duke Energy is based in Charlotte, North Carolina and serves electric utility customers across six states with a total owned capacity of 54,800 MW. Its natural gas utilities serve customers in five states.
More information about Duke Energy Florida’s power plants can be found on its website.
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