After the devastation
Goal: To improve utilities’ preparedness, responsiveness
of Hurricane Irma, Florida’s Public Service Commission will consider ways to improve hurricane preparation and restoration of utility services during a meeting Tuesday.
Florida’s Public Service Commission, which regulates Florida Power & Light Co. and other electric utilities in the state, is scheduled Tuesday to consider recommendations for better hurricane preparedness and power restoration actions following 2017’s Hurricane Irma.
The issues that should be addressed include utilities’ meeting with local government about tree trimming and critical infrastructure identification, utility staffing practices for emergency operations centers during storms, and preparation for roadway congestion and fuel availability, according to a report filed by the commission’s division of engineering. Commissioners also are expected to review each utility’s next storm hardening projects in the pipeline and consider alternatives, according to the draft recommendations.
Utilities operating throughout the state told the commission staff that hardened poles and other electrical equipment performed better than non-hardened equipment. Juno Beach-based FPL said underground lines were more resilient in Irma and plans a pilot program this year to put some community lines underground across the state.
There will likely be other initiatives or proposals considered at Tuesday’s meeting, said Cindy Muir, spokeswoman for the Public Service Commission.
The commission staff also calls for examination of procedures and processes used by utilities to estimate and communicate power restoration times.
“Many customer comments that were submitted expressed frustration with inaccurate power restoration estimates. Some local government representatives also expressed similar concerns,” the report says.
Several customers and cities filed complaints about FPL’s failure to communicate after Irma. At an FPL hurricane drill in May, CEO Eric Silagy said the utility was applying “lessons learned” from Irma.
“Very little communication