FPL Strengthens Sarasota's Electric Infrastructure for Storm Preparations and Reliability

Florida Power & Light Company is working this summer to clear vegetation from more than 120 miles of power lines and will use advanced infrared technology to examine eight main power lines in and near Sarasota to try to prevent power outages during summer storms and to ensure that power is restored faster in the case of outages.

It's all part of an initiative designed to strengthen the electric infrastructure and improve service reliability in Sarasota County. FPL customers can visit www.FPL.com/maps and enter their street address to see a detailed map of electrical improvements in their neighborhoods. This online tool shows the system improvements – including pole inspections, line clearing, power line strengthening and power line inspections.

“FPL has the most reliable service of any investor-owned utility in Florida and ranks among the very best in the nation," said FPL External Affairs Manager Rae Dowling. “While no utility can ever be completely interruption-proof, we’re working hard every day to provide our customers with electric service they can count on."

FPL is also planning an upgrade for a main power line serving Sarasota Memorial Hospital and the community thoroughfare on Bee Ridge Road.

FPL is touting its upgrades and accomplishments as it waits for the state's Public Service Commission to rule on a requested rate increase. Commissioners will rule next month on whether to increase, partially increase, maintain or decrease rates. If FPL's request is fully approved, rates could increase 16 percent for homes.

Including the ongoing improvements, since 2006 FPL has upgraded equipment and strengthened the main power lines at:

• Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Doctor’s Hospital of Sarasota, Venice Regional Medical Center and Englewood Community Hospital

•  Two 911 emergency communications centers

•  Two emergency operations centers

•  Sarasota County Schools Administrative Offices

• Community thoroughfares on Bee Ridge Road as well as Clark/Stickney Point Road from Beneva West to U.S. 41.

Following the 2004–2005 hurricane seasons that saw seven storms in a 15-month period, Florida called on all utility companies to maintain a high level of storm preparation. FPL, the largest rate-regulated electric utility in Florida, embarked on a series of improvements to strengthen its electric infrastructure to better withstand the impact of severe weather. The work is also designed to reduce customer outages. 

From 2006 to 2011, FPL invested more than $900 million to strengthen the electric grid against major storms, keep service reliability high as well as speed up service restoration time when outages occur.