JUNO BEACH, Fla. – Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) today deployed more than 600 employees and contractors to New Jersey to restore power in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias. FPL joins its sister company, Gulf Power, that is also traveling north to support restoration efforts with nearly 120 employees and contractors. FPL will assist Jersey Central Power & Light with its restoration efforts.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to our northern neighbors. While Florida was ultimately spared the worst weather from Hurricane Isaias, the powerful and notoriously unpredictable storm quickly raced north and left a trail of destruction from the Carolinas to Maine,” said Eric Silagy, FPL president and CEO. “We appreciated the assistance we received from numerous utilities to have a sizeable workforce in anticipation of this unpredictable storm. Now, it is time for us to return the favor and assist our fellow Americans in need who are impacted by this hurricane in the midst of the pandemic.”
The workforce began its more than 1,200-mile journey Wednesday morning to Red Bank, NJ. FPL crews will remain on the job for as long as their assistance is needed.
Due to the pandemic, crews will follow safety guidelines to keep everyone safe, including social distancing, increased sanitation measures and wearing masks where appropriate. Signs on trucks remind the public to honor the 6 feet social distancing requirements that help keep the crews safe while they work.
“Safety is the number one priority for our crews,” said Manny Miranda, FPL senior vice president for power delivery. “Our lineworkers have adapted to the challenges posed by the pandemic and have taken extra measures to ensure their and our customers’ safety. Through these challenging times, their commitment to safety and keeping the lights on – whether it be for our customers or our neighbors across the country – remains steadfast.”
Providing mutual assistance after natural disasters is a hallmark of the energy industry. In the past, FPL has provided assistance to areas impacted by major weather events, including the deployment of approximately 1,000 FPL workers to the Northeast in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy in 2012. In 2018, FPL crews deployed four times to assist in power restoration efforts after a natural disaster, some working six months away from home. FPL crews helped restore power in the Bayamon region of Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria; in the Carolinas, Florida’s Panhandle and Georgia in some of the hardest hit areas impacted by Hurricanes Florence and Michael; and in Northern California to areas devastated by the Camp Fire.
Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest energy company in the United States as measured by retail electricity produced and sold, serving more than 5.1 million customer accounts or an estimated 10 million+ people across the state of Florida. FPL’s typical 1,000-kWh residential customer bill is approximately 30% lower than the latest national average and among the lowest in the U.S. FPL’s service reliability is better than 99.98%, and its highly fuel-efficient power plant fleet is one of the cleanest among all electric companies nationwide. The company was recognized in 2020 as one of the most trusted U.S. electric utilities by Escalent for the seventh consecutive year. A leading Florida employer with approximately 8,900 employees, FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), a clean energy company widely recognized for its efforts in sustainability, ethics and diversity, and has been ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry in Fortune’s 2020 list of “World’s Most Admired Companies.” NextEra Energy is also the parent company of Gulf Power Company, which serves approximately 470,000 customers in eight counties throughout northwest Florida, and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.GulfPower.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com