FPL plans to inspect more than 800 poles on Beach
As part of Florida Power & Light Company’s ongoing commitment to strengthen the electrical infrastructure in the Town of Fort Myers Beach, the company will inspect approximately 820 poles, clear vegetation from 21 miles of power lines, and use infrared technology to examine four main power lines this year.
“We are continuing to invest to make our infrastructure stronger in good weather and bad,” said FPL External Affairs Manager Charlotte Miller.
“While no system will be immune to the devastating power of a severe weather event, our goal is to minimize damage to critical infrastructure so that we can respond more quickly. These investments are designed to respond to the potential for more frequent, more powerful hurricanes, but are also delivering customer benefits because they enhance day-to-day reliability as well.”
2006-2009 Infrastructure Investments and Action Plan
Following the 2004 2005 hurricane seasons that saw seven storms in a 15-month period, FPL responded to the state’s call to maintain a high level of storm preparation. FPL embarked on a series of comprehensive investments and improvements to strengthen its electrical infrastructure to better withstand the impact of severe weather, recognizing that no utility can be 100 percent storm-proof. The work is also designed to further reduce customer outages through aggressive preventative maintenance projects on its overhead and underground lines and equipment.
Strengthening Progress Highlights in Fort Myers Beach
By the end of 2009, FPL will have made the following improvements and investments since 2006 benefiting the Town of Fort Myers Beach:
n Inspected approximately 2,850 poles for strength and health, which represents 100 percent of the poles in Fort Myers Beach. Systemwide, the company is committed to repairing or replacing poles as necessary as part of its comprehensive program to inspect FPL’s 1 million poles every eight years.
n Trimmed tree limbs and branches along 61 miles of power lines on the Beach. Tree limbs and branches, especially palm fronds, are among the most common causes of power outages and flickers.
n Inspected six main power lines using special infrared technology called Thermovision to detect and address issues in power lines and equipment before they become problems or outages.
n Upgraded and strengthened main power lines serving critical roads and facilities in Fort Myers Beach’s neighboring communities, including Gulf Coast Medical Center, Health Park Medical Center, Shell Point Nursing Pavilion, Lee Memorial Hospital, 911 Emergency Services Communication facilities and Bonita Community Health Center.
“We are always working to improve our performance so that our customers continue to enjoy overall service reliability levels among the best in the country,” Miller said.
For more information on FPL’s reliability initiatives in your area, please visit www.FPL.com/neighborhood .
Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) is the largest electric utility in Florida and one of the largest rate-regulated utilities in the United States. FPL serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and is a leading employer in the state with nearly 11,000 employees. The company consistently outperforms national averages for service reliability while customer bills are well below the national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and the No. 1 energy efficiency program among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla.-based FPL Group (NYSE: FPL). For more information, visit www.FPL.com .