Clearwater candidates split on dropping Duke Energy as consultants’ savings clash with high buyout estimates

Moderators framed the debate by noting consultants say municipalizing the utility could cut residents’ bills by as much as 20%, while Duke Energy and some estimates put an upfront cost in the hundreds of millions.

Jared Leone said affordability must guide the decision, arguing the city should treat the question ‘‘as a regional opportunity’’ with nearby municipalities rather than acting alone. ‘‘Affordability is the driving factor,’’ he said, urging negotiations with regional partners to seek cheaper, reliable power.

Mark Bunker said he would support municipalization ‘‘if it made sense,’’ but warned of litigation and steep buyout estimates, saying the break-even period has to be short for it to be worthwhile. ‘‘If the break-even point was three to five years…that’s great. But if it’s 10 or 20 years, we have to have some real thoughtful discussions about that,’’ he said.

Kevin RT Lachland highlighted technical and jurisdictional constraints, noting Clearwater’s irregular borders and system-compatibility issues. He cautioned that state regulatory approvals and potential rate adjustments could blunt any near-term savings.

Sam Wilson described himself as ‘‘fiscally responsible’’ and said he would not support taking on burdens the city cannot afford. He urged negotiation with Duke and exploration of alternatives, including solar and other generation options.

Bianca Lvala said the city lacks the necessary expertise to assume utility operations and preferred robust negotiations with Duke unless municipalization clearly addressed budget gaps or became necessary due to major tax-law changes.

Candidates also discussed alternatives to buying out Duke: energy-efficiency contracts that reduce municipal building costs, more municipal solar and parking-lot solar arrays, and programs such as Solar United Neighbors that help homeowners access lower-cost solar. Jared singled out city bill fees and franchise charges as a target for near-term relief.

No candidate proposed a detailed timetable or a specific financing plan for a takeover; several cautioned that legal and technical hurdles would likely follow any vote to separate from Duke. The debate closed without a formal vote or specific city plan, leaving the issue for voters and the next council to weigh alongside cost studies and legal assessments.