TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Testimony began Monday on Florida Power & Light Co.’s request to raise base rates by $690.4 million a year after a state commission turned down motions by the state’s consumer advocate to delay the hearing or immediately dismiss a settlement proposed by the company.

The Florida Public Service Commission, instead, upheld an earlier order by its chairman to go ahead with the two-week hearing and temporarily set aside the settlement.