RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. — Whether he’s testing transformers with 1,400 amps of simulated lightning or verifying bucket trucks can safely handle high-voltage encounters, Wigberto "Wiggy" Flores-Hernandez is energized by his work every day. 

Flores-Hernandez is a senior engineer at Florida Power & Light Company’s (FPL) Reliability Assurance Center (RAC), one of the utility industry’s most specialized facilities. He is part of a team that ensures FPL equipment can withstand Florida’s harsh weather conditions, like the corrosive effects of salty air and the frequent lightning strikes for which the state is known. His work at the RAC helps ensure the crews working on the grid stay safe by properly channeling dangerous electrical surges away from equipment and into the ground.  

Flores-Hernandez started his career with FPL at the St. Lucie nuclear plant in 2016, where he worked as a design engineer before taking a position at the RAC in 2018. The transition from nuclear to reliability testing opened a world of opportunities that has kept him highly engaged.  

"The great thing about showing up to work is I get the opportunity to wear different hats," said Flores-Hernandez. "It's exciting, every day I get to test different things."  

At the heart of the RAC sits the crown jewel: a lightning lab that simulates the real-world conditions that electric equipment must endure in Florida. The Sunshine State leads the nation in lightning strikes, making this testing capability essential for grid reliability.  

"We power up our surge simulator to full capacity and then create an artificial lightning strike to test our equipment," said Flores-Hernandez. "We use 20,000 volts and 10,000 amps of electricity — that's twice the voltage and electrical current that most utilities in other states typically use for testing, but they don't have to deal with lightning storms like we do here in Florida."  

The lab's reputation extends far beyond Florida. 

"The lab has established itself as one of the industry's most trusted testing facilities,” said Flores-Hernandez. “When vendors develop new products, earning FPL's approval becomes a coveted industry benchmark that validates quality nationwide.” 

The RAC also houses other tools and technologies that would make most laboratories envious. A salt fog chamber simulates two years of coastal weathering in just three months, subjecting equipment to the demanding conditions that impact FPL’s service area.    

"The salt fog chamber is an essential testing asset," said Flores-Hernandez. "It gives us confidence that when we install equipment near Florida's coastline, it will withstand decades of salty air, humidity and extreme conditions that our customers depend on us to navigate. This accelerated testing helps us maintain the industry-leading service reliability our communities expect from us."  

The RAC team's work is perhaps most critical when certifying bucket trucks for live-line work on high-voltage 500kV transmission lines — work that requires absolute trust between crews and their equipment.  

"I apply large amounts of electricity to the arm of the truck to check that the electrical current flows safely to the ground as it should," said Flores-Hernandez. "Many people, especially newcomers to the field, need to feel confident working around high-voltage power lines that carry 500,000 volts of electricity. We sometimes bring lineworkers here as part of their training so they can witness the testing and see that everything works safely."  

This commitment to safety is an important part of the RAC's comprehensive approach to stress-testing equipment.  

Some tests, like those on substation grounding systems, must be conducted outdoors and require days of advance preparation. Teams must coordinate favorable weather windows, transport and position heavy testing equipment in the field and establish comprehensive safety protocols before conducting any actual testing. 

Flores-Hernandez brings the same commitment to excellence to his life outside the lab. He says his work allows him to stay connected to his community. He coaches his 7-year-old son's recreation baseball team in Jupiter and participates in a competitive bowling league, where he maintains a 200 average.  

Flores-Hernandez says he takes pride knowing when FPL customers flip on their light switches each day, that reliable service is due, at least in part, to the rigorous testing he and his colleagues perform. 

“Everything we do here comes back to the people we serve," said Flores-Hernandez. "Whether it's a family turning on their lights after a storm or a lineworker feeling confident on a high-voltage line, our testing ensures that when it matters most, the equipment works exactly as it should. That's what drives me — knowing that our work in the lab directly protects our crews and helps ensure we provide reliable power to the communities we serve.”