The following is taken from the Florida ASsociation of Realtors news & events 2/14/07

Refund money on its way soon to some Citizens customers:  If you’re a customer with a single-family house who already paid for the rate increase that took effect. Jan. 1, you’ll get money back soon.    Customers in Citizens’ hight-risk area will see their premiums go down an average of 25.3 percent in some counties.  Those living outside the high-risk area will see much smaller decreases, if any   WHile refunds for Citizens’ coastal customers start today, customers outside the high-risk area won’t start getting money back until March 15, according to Citizens’ filing.

Only one private property insurance company, St. Petersburg-based American Strategic Insurance, has asked regulatiors to lower rates since Govenor Crist signed the insurance law.  The company asked for a 20 percent decrease in its hurricane rates, which would result in an 11.5 percent reduction to its overall homeowner premiums, according to the company’s filing with the state. 

Companies will have until June 1 to implement lower rates based on the new insurance law, said Bob Lotane, a spokesman for the office of insurance regulation. Copyright @2007 South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Kathy Bushouse.  Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.