An ice plant, 35 mules and a fleet of small electric plants were among the unique assortment of ventures that laid the foundation for Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) 100 years ago. From powering plants to supporting the fledgling space program, FPL has helped shape the sunshine state’s growth over the past century.

“As we celebrate FPL’s centennial, we have evolved from our humble beginnings to the nation’s largest electric utility,” said Armando Pimentel, president and CEO of FPL. “Much has changed, but through it all our company has remained dedicated to its mission of delivering reliable service while keeping bills as low as possible.”

In 1925, FPL began serving Florida by uniting 76,000 customers across 58 communities. Today, the company provides a reliable and diverse energy mix to its approximately 12 million customers across the state while investing in the communities it serves. The journey to energizing these communities has been marked by significant milestones, from supporting critical military infrastructure during World War II to developing the first nuclear power plant in the state and later setting industry-leading reliability standards.

Achievements like these were made possible by a dedicated workforce, focused on building a grid that delivers reliable electricity — no matter the weather — while keeping bills well below the national average.

FPL energy expert David King, for example, has been sharing energy savings tips with customers for the past four decades, and is part of a team that’s made major strides in innovation.

There once was a time when energy experts, in the 1980s, were referred to as attic rats because they would have to crawl inside attics, inspecting every corner to evaluate electricity usage and make cost-saving recommendations. Today, FPL’s Energy Manager, is a technological advancement that has been a game changer for energy experts like King. The all-in-one online tool provides personalized insights and tips on each customers’ electricity usage and empowers them to audit their own electricity from home.

“Getting up every day, I know I’m going to be able to help at least one customer,” King said. “It’s beyond gratifying.”

Lineworkers also are among those who have played a crucial role in FPL’s history, evolving from using dynamite in swamplands to set poles to now utilizing GPS-based tools for remote grid diagnostics.

And when devastating hurricanes have uprooted communities across the state, FPL lineworkers have relentlessly worked around-the-clock to get the lights back on. Brothers Chad and Ricky Hollingsworth are a testament to that.  Both FPL lineworkers, the Hollingsworth’s — whose careers have come full circle, from eager apprentices to now teaching the next generation of lineworkers — have been on the front lines during countless hurricanes, working to restore power safely and as quickly as possible to Floridians.

“When you’re out here, it’s not just about restoring power; it’s about restoring hope,” said Chad. “Every storm we face, we come out stronger, and every apprentice I train, I see the future of our community.”

Beyond storm response, FPL also has made leaps in diversifying its energy mix over the past 100 years. Project developer Will Sabayrac is one team member who has witnessed that transformation.

In 2021, FPL eliminated its last coal-fired plant in Florida, thanks to a planned implosion that ushered in a more efficient way to generate power and save money on electricity bills.

Now, that site is home to Monarch Solar Energy Center, a project Sabayrac helped bring to fruition. The site symbolizes FPL's transition from aging, inefficient plants to modern, fuel-efficient technology that has helped save customers billions of dollars in avoided fuel costs.

“It’s exciting to be on the leading edge of an energy transition that’s going to make a big difference for our customers," Sabayrac said.

As FPL celebrates 100 years of service, it also looks forward to shaping the future of energy for customers and employees for the next 100 years and beyond. 

"FPL's future is rooted in leveraging advanced technology to shape a better tomorrow," Pimentel said. "Even as we evolve and innovate, our focus remains on serving our customers better every day with unmatched reliability and affordability."