JUNO BEACH, Fla., March 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Power & Light Company delivered its best reliability performance on record in 2012 and is working to make its electric system even stronger. In its annual filing today with the Florida Public Service Commission, FPL said it is investing more than $200 million in 2013 to better prepare its infrastructure to withstand severe storms and further improve everyday reliability. 

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120301/FL62738LOGO)

"At FPL, we understand how much our customers depend on electricity. That's why delivering reliable electric service is job one. We're working hard every day to keep the lights on for our customers. That means improving reliability and restoring service quickly when interruptions occur," said FPL President Eric Silagy. "Since 2006, we've invested more than $1 billion to upgrade the electric system against major storms, helping make our service among the very best in the country. But we're never satisfied. We are committed to continually working to provide our customers with the most reliable service and the lowest residential bills of all 55 electric utilities in Florida."

Better Reliability and Storm Preparations
In 2012, the company achieved its best-ever overall reliability performance, as measured by the average time a customer is without power – considered the industry's best overall reliability indicator. The average time a typical customer was without service was reduced by 20 percent compared to 2011. The report also outlines FPL plans for continued improvements in 2013.

Conducting pole inspections:             
FPL continues to maintain strong utility poles to hold the power lines and equipment needed to deliver electricity. In 2013, FPL will inspect more than 130,000 distribution poles, completing its initial inspection of more than one million poles in the company's system. Poles that no longer meet FPL's strength standards are reinforced or replaced. This year, the company also continues to inspect the structures holding its high-power transmission lines. Overall, in 2012, FPL replaced more than 9,500 poles with stronger ones, helping improve their ability to withstand Florida's severe storms.

Strengthening key local facilities:
FPL's program includes making local "critical infrastructure facilities" – including hospitals, fire and rescue stations and 911 communication centers – stronger against severe weather. In 2013, FPL is accelerating its program to improve the lines and equipment serving these facilities, which are identified with the help of local community leaders. The company also continues to upgrade other neighborhood facilities, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and major highway crossings, to help communities recover faster following major storms.

Clearing power lines:
Trees and other vegetation growing near power lines can cause service interruptions. In 2013, FPL is continuing its program to deliver power more reliably by clearing tree limbs, branches and other vegetation from all main distribution lines every three years and neighborhood power lines every six years. In all, the company expects to trim vegetation from more than 15,000 miles of power lines this year. In 2012, FPL cleared approximately 15,000 miles of lines across Florida – a distance equal to traveling round trip from Miami to Los Angeles nearly three times.

Long-Term Commitment 
FPL's ongoing investments are part of the company's long-term commitment to make the electric system stronger against severe storms and increase everyday reliability for customers. Since the infrastructure improvement program began in 2006, this massive effort has achieved a number of key milestones:

• Cleared trees and vegetation from more than 90,000 miles of power lines  – a distance nearly four times the earth's circumference;   
• Inspected 940,000 utility poles (distribution) – when laid end to end, a line stretching from Florida to Brazil and back;             
• Strengthened 361 main power lines serving local critical infrastructure facilities, such as hospitals and fire and rescue stations, and other community needs, including pharmacies and grocery stores.  

Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest rate-regulated electric utility in Florida and serves the third-largest number of customers of any electric utility in the United States. FPL serves approximately 4.6 million customer accounts and is a leading Florida employer with approximately 10,000 employees as of year-end 2012. During the five-year period ended December 31, 2011, the company delivered the best service reliability among Florida investor-owned utilities, while its typical residential customer bills, based on data available in July 2012, are about 26 percent below the national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and one of the leading energy efficiency programs among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla.-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit www.FPL.com.

To download a video of FPL President Eric Silagy discussing service reliability, please click the link below:

Click here to download 26283_Silagy_Reliability v2-h264-highres.mov

SOURCE Florida Power & Light Co.