JUNO BEACH, Fla. – Florida Power & Light Company crews recently returned to Florida after restoring power to hundreds of energy customers that were impacted by Hurricane Isaias. FPL deployed more than 600 employees and contractor workers to New Jersey to help restore electric service and aid in the recovery efforts in the aftermath of the erratic and unpredictable storm that first paralleled Florida’s east coast before leaving a trail of destruction from the Carolinas to Maine.
Crews worked 16-hour days in difficult conditions to restore power in central New Jersey, which was hit hard in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias. FPL crews helped restore power to nearly 3,000 homes and businesses. FPL joined its sister company, Gulf Power, which also sent nearly 120 employees and contractors to support restoration efforts.
“As Floridians who know exactly what it’s like to be impacted by a hurricane, we understand the critical role mutual assistance plays in getting communities back up and running safely and as quickly as possible following severe weather,” said FPL President and CEO Eric Silagy. “Just as we’ve appreciated help from energy companies across the United States over the years, FPL is always eager and ready to step up and lend support, particularly during this global pandemic, which has only amplified the importance of uninterrupted electricity. I am so proud of our men and women for selflessly leaving their families for an extended period of time to work long, grueling hours and support our fellow Americans in need during these challenging times.”
Before making the decision to send help, FPL makes sure its customers are taken care of and that no other storms are on the immediate horizon.
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.
B-roll: https://fpl.sharefile.com/d-s61999e2d7a44bfdb
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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