- The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) has honored Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) with its Emergency Response Award for the company’s power restoration efforts following Hurricane Ian
- In late September, Hurricane Ian ravaged Florida for 72 hours, making landfall near Fort Myers before slicing through the state
- The catastrophic Category 4 storm, with 150 mph winds, unprecedented storm surge, torrential rainfall and flooding, left millions of Florida homes and businesses without power
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) is being recognized for its recovery and restoration efforts following the 2022 hurricane season.
FPL received the Edison Electric Institue (EEI) Emergency Assistance Award for the support provided following Hurricane Ian. The Category 4 storm made landfall on Sept. 28, pummeling Florida’s Gulf Coast with sustained winds of 155 mph before cutting across toward the east coast. The storm left a path of destruction across the Sunshine State, producing catastrophic flooding and deadly storm surge.
“Throughout the past six months, electric companies faced devastating hurricanes, unprecedented heat waves, and many other extreme weather events that impacted the customers and communities we serve,” said EEI President Tom Kuhn. “I commend Florida Power & Light Company’s commitment to restore service for its customers safely and quickly under challenging conditions. FPL and its storm response team undoubtedly are deserving of this national recognition, and I am honored to present them with this well-deserved award.”
Making its presence felt this hurricane season, FPL sent an extensive restoration workforce of 21,000 men and women to help restore power to two-thirds of its customers after just one full day of restoration.
Working around the clock, the utility company was able to restore power to all of its more than 2.1 million customers impacted by Ian just eight days after the storm exited the state.
“Hurricane Ian was a time of heartbreak and loss for many of our fellow Floridians and we dedicated ourselves to helping customers get back on their feet after the devastating storm,” said Eric Silagy, chairman and CEO of FPL. “The resourcefulness and ingenuity displayed by our employees and all first responders throughout this challenging restoration was awe-inspiring. I couldn’t be prouder of their commitment to restoring a sense of normalcy to our state and our communities when they needed us most.”
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, ground assessments proved to be challenging due to washed-out roadways and bridges. To counteract, FPL implemented cutting-edge technologies, including drones like its latest FPLAir One, which was used to assess damage safely and quickly. The drone also provided critical intelligence to put the crews and equipment in the right places to restore power.
Accepting the award, FPL credited its continued investment in building a stronger, smarter and more storm-resilient energy grid.
Of note, FPL’s grid suffered no significant structural damage and did not lose a single transmission structure during the storm.
Additionally, FPL’s underground lines performed five times better than overhead neighborhood power lines in Southwest Florida, according to assessments following Hurricane Ian.
This is the 13th time FPL has been recognized by EEI for recovery and assistance efforts following service disruptions caused by extreme weather or other natural events.
The winners were chosen by a panel of judges following an international nomination process, and the awards were presented during EEI’s winter Board of Directors and CEO meeting.
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