April 2 (Reuters) - Duke Energy's ( DUK ) Florida

segment (DEF) on Tuesday said it filed for new base rates,

requesting nearly $820 million in revenue between 2025-2027 with

the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC), a cost which would

be passed onto customers.

DEF said the base rate aims to help the company increase

efficiency, modernize the grid and invest in 14 new solar sites

of 1,050 megawatts overall.

Duke's Florida segment serves nearly 1.97 million people.

With customer bills going into 2025 being lower on certain

2022 contracts expiring at the end of this year, the base rates

would rise by 4% from 2025 through 2027: going up $16.48 in

2025, $2.73 in 2026 and $4.93 in 2027 on a 1,000-kilowatt bill.

The company also flagged it plans to file a fuel and

capacity rate request due to falling natural gas costs, which

would lower customer bills by $5, in addition to a $11.29

decrease that began in January 2024.

Natgas prices have fallen nearly 25% this year to

their lowest since June 2020, as ample supply and storage, and

low heating needs.