JUNO BEACH, Fla., Aug. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Now that Erika
has dissipated, Florida Power &
Light Company (FPL) continues to monitor the weather and has
withdrawn requests for additional workers from partner
utilities.
"As we have learned throughout the years, the only thing
predictable about a storm such as Erika is its unpredictability,"
said Eric Silagy, president and CEO
of FPL. "Just as Governor Scott made the prudent decision to act
early and proactively, we, too, have an obligation to our customers
to prepare. And while we have now asked our out-of-state partner
utilities to stand down, we sincerely appreciate their willingness
to step up and lend a hand when needed, just as we do for them in
their time of need. We recognize the remnants of Erika could still
create rainy and gusty conditions and FPL remains vigilant and
prepared to respond to any impacts it could have on our
customers."
The erratic nature of this storm serves as a reminder of the
importance of good preparation this hurricane season. A decade has
passed since a hurricane made landfall in Florida and FPL estimates 40 percent of its
customers have not experienced a hurricane.
How we prepare for storm season
- Prior to storm season, we conduct extensive training to prepare
our employees to respond safely and as quickly as possible if a
storm threatens our service territory.
- We secure agreements for assistance from out-of-state utilities
and electrical contracting companies in the event that additional
restoration workers are needed. We also order backup supplies and
equipment, and plan staging sites throughout our 35-county service
territory.
- We work closely with local emergency officials to update lists
of facilities that are critical to the community, such as
hospitals, police and fire stations, communication facilities,
water treatment plants and transportation providers.
- We also prepare and strengthen our infrastructure throughout
the year by:
- Clearing tree limbs and branches from power lines
- Inspecting poles for strength
- Upgrading poles from wood to concrete or steel, and
- Inspecting power lines and equipment with infrared technology
to detect issues the naked eye can't see, and making any needed
repairs.
What you can do
Safety is always FPL's first
priority. We urge you to make it your top priority, too:
- Keep a battery-operated radio on hand with a two-week supply of
fresh batteries, along with other essentials.
- Record your FPL account number in a location that will be
readily available. By knowing your account number you will be able
to quickly access your account online at FPL.com, using your
computer or mobile device. Also have our phone number
(1-800-4OUTAGE or 1-800-468-8243) handy, in the event that you need
to call to obtain information through our automated system.
- If someone in your home is dependent on electric-powered
life-sustaining medical equipment, review your family emergency
plan for back-up power or make arrangements to relocate when a
storm warning is issued.
- If you plan to use a ladder while preparing your home for the
storm, note the location of power lines before you begin. Be sure
that ladders or scaffolds are far enough away so that you – and the
ends of the tools you're using – stay at least 10 feet away
from power lines. Before lowering a TV antenna or satellite dish,
make sure to turn off and unplug the TV.
- Adjust refrigerators and freezers to their coldest settings
ahead of a storm to keep food fresher longer in the event of a
power outage.
How to stay informed
FPL communicates restoration
information to customers frequently through the news media and the
following mobile-friendly resources:
- FPL website: FPL.com
- Twitter: twitter.com/insideFPL
- Facebook: facebook.com/FPLconnect
- FPL blog: FPLblog.com
- FPL Power Tracker: FPL.com/powertracker
Customers also can sign up for pre- and post-storm email updates
at FPL.com/storm.
Florida Power &
Light Company
Florida Power
& Light Company is the third-largest electric utility in
the United States, serving
approximately 4.8 million customer accounts across nearly half of
the state of Florida. FPL's typical 1,000-kWh residential customer
bill is approximately 30 percent lower than the latest national
average and, in 2014, was the lowest in Florida among 55 reporting utilities for the
fifth year in a row. FPL's service reliability is better than 99.98
percent, and its highly fuel-efficient power plant fleet is one of
the cleanest among all utilities nationwide. The company was
recognized in 2015 as one of the most trusted U.S. electric
utilities by Market Strategies International. A leading Florida
employer with approximately 8,700 employees, FPL is a subsidiary of
Juno Beach, Fla.-based NextEra
Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), a clean energy company widely recognized
for its efforts in sustainability, ethics and diversity, including
being ranked in the top 10 worldwide for innovativeness and
community responsibility as part of Fortune's 2015 list of "World's
Most Admired Companies." NextEra Energy is also the parent company
of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its
affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable
energy from the wind and sun. For more information, visit these
websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com,
www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.
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SOURCE Florida Power & Light
Company