Florida Public Service Commission v. Florida Cities Water Co.

GRIMES, Acting Chief Judge.

This appeal represents another chapter in the continuing dispute over the validity of water and sewer franchises granted by Lee County before that county relinquished jurisdiction of its water and sewer regulation to the Public Service Commission.

Prior to 1970 Lee County had granted a number of water and sewer franchises to various utility companies. The county had entered into franchise agreements similar in form with the several utilities providing for a payment to the county of a franchise fee consisting of a percentage of gross revenues. These agreements…