The Florida Supreme Court unanimously rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have overhauled and deregulated the state's electric-utility industry, saying part of the proposal's wording would mislead voters.

The ruling was a victory for state leaders, business groups and utilities that fought the amendment, which was proposed for the November ballot by a political committee known as Citizens for Energy Choices.

The proposal called for creating a "competitive" electricity market that would have made dramatic changes in the heavily regulated industry in which much of the state receives electricity from Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy Florida, Tampa Electric Co. and Gulf Power.