PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Florida's big power companies were defeated at the ballot box as Florida residents voted down Amendment 1, the so-called "Solar Amendment."

The measure failed to receive the 60 percent needed for a state constitutional amendment to become law.

While appearing to support solar power, opponents claimed the amendment actually hurt citizens.

The amendment offered rights that Florida residents already had and would prohibit solar panel owners from being able to subsidize backup power to non-solar users.

Without the amendment, solar panel users in the state have the right to sell any energy they harness back to utility companies to be used for other customers.