JUNO BEACH, Fla., April 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Trees growing near power lines are one of the leading causes of power flickers and outages. With National Arbor Day around the corner, Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) reminds its customers to follows its tree-planting tips.
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"Line clearing is an important part of our plan to keep the lights on and our customers safe," said Eli Viamontes, FPL's manager of vegetation management. "By making the right landscaping choices, our customers can help maintain safe, reliable electric service for their families and neighbors."
"Right Tree, Right Place":
- Find the Right Tree – Trees come in many shapes and sizes, and can change dramatically as they grow. Before selecting a tree, learn how tall, wide and deep the tree will be at maturity. Visit www.FPL.com/RightTree for planting tips and a list of recommended trees by region.
- Choose the Right Place – Trees and power lines don't mix. Trees that grow too close to power lines could interrupt local electric service and cause a safety hazard. FPL encourages its customers to plant trees and bushes away from power lines to help maintain reliable electric service.
- Call Before You Dig – Some utility lines are buried underground. So, before reaching for a shovel, reach for the phone. Sunshine State One Call of Florida will have underground lines and equipment marked for free. Just call 811 at least two full business days before digging. For more information, visit www.Sunshine811.com.
- Don't Prune Near Power – FPL cautions its customers to never prune trees growing near power lines; hire trained professionals to clear vegetation away from the lines. Stay safe and stay far away from power lines at all times.
"FPL delivers better than 99.98 percent reliability and we're working constantly to make it even better," Viamontes added. "That's why we clear trees and vegetation from approximately 15,000 miles of power lines every year – a distance equal to traveling round trip from Miami to Los Angeles nearly three times."
The National Arbor Day Foundation has designated FPL as a "Tree Line USA" company for 10 consecutive years in recognition of the company's support for preserving, protecting and enhancing the environment.
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, 2012, the company delivered the best service reliability among Florida investor-owned utilities. As of year-end 2012, its typical residential customer bills are the lowest in Florida, and 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.
SOURCE Florida Power & Light Company