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FPL wants to increase rates to cover the money spent to restore power after Hurricane Matthew

Florida Power and Light customers could possibly see another rate increase on their utility bills in 2017.

FPL wants the Florida Service Commission to OK the hike to recover millions of dollars spent to restore power to their customers after Hurricane Matthew.

Karen Pichette lives in the Lincolnville neighborhood of St. Augustine. The Connecticut native said she evacuated during Hurricane Matthew and was one of many people left without power.

"The water came to the bottom of that stuff and didn't come inside so it was a lot of mess outside but nothing inside, and no power, definitely not for a few days," said Pichette.

Pichette, like thousands of others in St. Johns County, is a FPL customer.

Action News Jax told you back in November about the $811 million increase that was approved for the company to raise their rates over the next four years, something customers said they haven't even noticed yet.

"Well, we figured everything everything goes up in time, so it goes up," said Maurice Soriano.

"I don't agree with that at all, I don't think it should be increased. I mean, we pay what the utilities cost here and there's no reason for that," Pichette said.

FPL is looking to recover nearly $320 million, and if the increase is approved, the average customer would see an additional $3.36 a month for a year.

FPL said it needs the money to help with costs of restoring power to 1.2 million customers after Hurricane Matthew.

"What else are we going to do? I don't think we have a choice other than to speak our minds and say we don't agree," Pichette said.

If approved, those increases would start after March 1.