FPL
asks customers to be prepared to be without power for several days
should a powerful storm bring devastation.
Juno
Beach, FL (May 31, 2012) -- As Floridians turn their attention to
the tropics this storm season, Florida
Power & Light Company reminds customers that no
utility is hurricane proof. While the company’s careful investments
since 2006 have made its electric system more resilient to severe
weather, hurricanes are powerful forces of nature that cause
significant damage, and including potential widespread electricity
outages.
"Hurricanes
are powerful forces of nature that can cause significant damage and
widespread electricity outages,” said FPL President Eric Silagy.
“FPL has a well-developed plan for storm restoration. We train
rigorously and we are prepared."
Customers’
storm plans, like those of FPL, should anticipate that a direct
strike by a major hurricane could damage the electric system so
significantly that many customers could experience power outages. FPL
asks customers to be prepared to be without power for several days
should a powerful storm bring devastation. The following tips will
help customers to best be prepared for power outages this storm
season:
FPL’s
Storm Preparation Checklist for Customers
• Review
family emergency plans for back-up power and relocating;
• Update
the phone number and e-mail address on file with FPL;
• Keep
a copy of a recent FPL bill in your storm kit so key phone numbers
and account information are readily available;
• Ensure
that you have all necessary adapters to charge cell phones or laptops
from a generator, solar charger or car charger;
• Those
dependent on electric-powered, life-sustaining medical equipment
should know relocation arrangements now for when a storm warning is
issued;
• If
customers haven't done so already, they should have their trees
properly trimmed by a trained line-clearing professional. This
minimizes the potential for debris to impact the power lines for
homes and neighborhoods. It is important to have debris cleared prior
to a hurricane warning announcement when trash pickup is suspended.
For more information on FPL’s tree trimming policies, visit Trees
and Power Lines;
• Gather
and test essential supplies needed during power outages:
o
two-week supply of fresh batteries
o
Flashlights
o
Battery-operated radios
o
Extension cords
o
Emergency generators;
• Now
is the time to test portable generators. Make sure the equipment
works, know how to operate it and where to safely use the equipment.
For more information, visit our Generator Safety web page.
How
FPL Communicates with Customers Regarding a Storm
When
outages occur, FPL understands that its customers need to know when
their power will be restored so they can plan ahead. That’s why FPL
communicates frequently through the news media and makes its
communications accessible on smart phones and tablets, through such
sites as:
• FPL
website: http://www.FPL.com
• Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/insideFPL
• Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/FPLconnect
• YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/FPL
• FPL
blog: http://www.FPLblog.com
• FPL
Power Tracker: http://www.FPLmaps.com
How
Customers Can Best Communicate with FPL
After
a storm, FPL is aware that customers are without power and urges them
to call FPL only for emergency situations.
• FPL
urges customers to keep its phone lines open for emergency
situations.
• Customers
should call 911 or 1-800-4-OUTAGE if they see a downed power line.
• FPL
is aware that customers are without power so there is no need to
report outages at this time. If you have already reported a downed
power line, it is not necessary to call and report it again.
• However,
if customers still find themselves without service, even though their
neighborhood or area of business has been mostly restored, we want to
hear from them. If customers are in this situation, they should call
FPL at 1-800-4-OUTAGE, as they may be experiencing a more localized
problem with their electric service and we want to restore their
power safely and as quickly as possible.
FPL’s
Pre-Storm Activities
Prior
to the start of storm season, FPL conducts extensive training to
prepare its employees to respond safely and as quickly as possible if
a storm threatens FPL’s service territory. To get ready for storm
season, FPL also coordinates assistance agreements with other
utilities for out-of state support, orders restoration supplies and
equipment, and secures staging sites throughout its 35-county service
territory. These preparations enable the company to quickly deploy
equipment and crews to storm-damaged communities.
FPL’s
plan recognizes that restoration of power to its customers will vary
not only on the path and intensity of the storm through FPL’s
service territory, but also on how the storm impacts other utilities
and how quickly additional restoration workers and supplies can reach
Florida.
In
addition, FPL works closely with emergency operations officials to
update lists of Critical Infrastructure Facilities, such as
hospitals, police and fire stations, communication facilities, water
treatment plants, and transportation providers. This information is
used to establish priorities for restoration in any communities that
might be affected by a storm.
Year-round,
FPL proactively makes its infrastructure more resilient to strong
winds and less likely to be impacted by debris as part of its
comprehensive, long-term plan to deliver reliable electric service,
in good weather and bad. These efforts include:
• Clearing
tree limbs and branches from power lines;
• Inspecting
poles for strength and health;
• Upgrading
poles, many of which are replaced with concrete or steel, and;
• Inspecting
power lines and equipment with infrared technology.
Florida
Power & Light Company
Florida
Power & Light Company is the largest electric utility in Florida
and one of the largest rate-regulated utilities in the United States.
FPL serves approximately 4.6 million customer accounts and is a
leading Florida employer with approximately 10,000 employees. The
company consistently outperforms national averages for service
reliability while its typical residential customer bills, based on
data available in December 2011, are about 25 percent below the
national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest
emissions profiles and one of the leading energy efficiency programs
among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach,
Fla.-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information,
visit http://www.FPL.com.
Media
Contact:
FPL
Media Line
Florida
Power & Light Company
700
Universe Blvd.
Juno
Beach, FL 33408
305-552-3888
