Florida Power & Light Co. is deploying 320 employees and contractors to New York in support of power restoration activity as a Nor'easter continues to impact the Mid-Atlantic and New England areas. FPL crews will assist PSEG Long Island in its efforts to restore service following heavy snow and high winds.
"FPL is pleased to help our partner utilities in their time of need, just as they often provide assistance to our company when FPL customers are impacted by a hurricane, tropical storm or other natural disaster, such as last year's Hurricane Matthew," said Eric Silagy, president and CEO of FPL. "Regardless of the time of year, FPL is always on call to support our colleagues at other utilities."
Out-of-state utility workers played a critical role in restoring service to 1.2 million FPL customers following Hurricane Matthew last October. Coupled with a stronger, smarter energy grid, these workers – from as far away as Massachusetts and Texas – helped FPL restore service to 98 percent of its customers within two days of Matthew exiting Florida.
The FPL workforce traveling to Long Island, including 120 FPL lineworkers and 200 contractors and support staff from across Florida, began its more than 1,000-mile journey Monday afternoon. FPL crews will remain on the job for as long as their assistance is needed.
In the past, FPL has provided assistance to areas impacted by major weather events, including the deployment of approximately 1,000 FPL workers to the Northeast in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
