Power & Light tried to sway city council members to sign off on its business plans. Text messages show an FPL executive was kept abreast
FPL denies that it authorized or knew about the surveillance. But the records show employees of Matrix LLC, an Alabama-based consulting firm employed by the utility, were shadowing the journalist throughout his critical coverage of a failed $11bn purchase of a smaller Florida utility. Eric Silagy, CEO of Florida Power & Light, told Nate Monroe he ‘had never authorized or approved or been a party to’ having the journalist surveiled.by the Orlando Sentinel revealed Matrix operatives orchestrated a campaign to promote spoiler candidates that diverted votes from Democrats so Republicans could retain control of the Florida senate. FPL denies knowledge of or involvement in that scheme.
FPL has said a law firm reviewed its work with Matrix and found no evidence of wrongdoing by the utility’s employees, but FPL has refused to share the report or its findings. “Taken individually or collectively, none of the information you have in your possession demonstrates any wrongdoing by FPL or our employees,” Reuter said.