FPL offers advice during cold snap

FPL Cold Weather Response coordinates Florida reliability: running plants at max output, shifting from natural gas to oil-based fuels, activating load management, preparing the On Call program, and staging restoration crews for demand and outages.

Florida Power & Light Company said that it is preparing for record demand for electricity in its service territory as a result of record-low forecasted temperatures.

“These additional steps involving the On Call program and voluntary conservation are not required at this time, but we are carefully monitoring conditions and will respond quickly if conditions dictate”

“Extremely cold weather is very unusual for Florida. Until warmer weather returns, we’re closely monitoring weather conditions. We understand how difficult it is for anyone to be without power in cold weather, and that restoration timelines can be prolonged in severe events, and we are taking all appropriate actions to minimize any potential impact on our customers as a result of what are expected to be record-setting conditions,” said FPL President and CEO Armando J. Olivera.

The company is closely monitoring weather conditions, power plant operations and fuel availability, and its grid enhancements help ensure it continues to have sufficient power generation capacity to meet what is expected to be record-high electricity demand.

In order to meet anticipated demand, FPL is operating all available power plants at maximum output, and its disaster response alliance supports coordination across facilities during extreme conditions. Where it has the ability to do so, the company is switching power plants to oil-based fuels to reduce consumption of natural gas because Florida's two natural gas pipelines are operating at maximum capacity.

In addition, the company is activating its voluntary load management program with large commercial and industrial customers.

If conditions were to change and require additional measures to ensure sufficient power generation capacity, informed by its hurricane simulations program FPL could implement the voluntary residential and small business On Call program under which heating systems, water heaters and pool pumps may be cycled on and off to reduce overall demand for electricity. By volunteering to allow FPL to turn off their appliances or equipment when a need exists, customers in the On Call program receive credits on their electric bills.

If conditions were to worsen, FPL could call for voluntary conservation from all customers.

“These additional steps involving the On Call program and voluntary conservation are not required at this time, but we are carefully monitoring conditions and will respond quickly if conditions dictate,” Olivera said. "In the meantime, FPL always encourages customers to use energy wisely to reduce their energy usage and keep bills as low as possible."

To lower energy usage and save money, heat your home at 68 degrees or cooler with the thermostat fan switch on "auto." Lower your thermostat to 65 degrees or cooler at bedtime or when you're away from home.

While FPL does not expect widespread outages, the company has added crews, reflecting its massive storm response experience gained during prior hurricanes to respond as quickly as possible to any localized outages that might occur. FPL has more than 1,200 restoration workers in place for the weekend.

During periods of unusually cold weather, high electrical demand from heating systems can overload power lines and transformers, causing a localized outage that utilities work to restore power from quickly to protect the system. The outage is the result of a safety mechanism – similar to the tripping of a circuit breaker in the home – that may trip fuses or transformers to prevent damage to the system.

These outages are largely driven by the use of portable heaters and strip heating systems, which require significantly more power than cooling. Also, gusty winds may blow vegetation and debris into power lines and, as seen when a fire triggered outages across Florida, cause localized outages.

Safety is a cornerstone of FPL’s commitment to customers and employees. As the cold weather approaches, FPL reminds its customers to take safety precautions when using space heaters:

• Use space heaters for only limited amounts of time and not as a primary heat source;

• Direct the heater to warm people, not space;

• Keep flammable materials such as bedding, clothing, draperies, rugs and furniture at least three feet away from the heater;

• Keep children and pets away from the heater;

• Keep space heaters away from water to avoid electric shock;

• Turn off and unplug the heater when leaving the room for an extended period of time;

• Avoid using extension cords.

In addition, never use your range or oven to help heat your home, and never use a charcoal grill, barbecue or camp stove in your home or garage. If these are your only options, head to a local Red Cross shelter to stay warm.

FPL also recommends that customers check back-up facilities if someone in their home is dependent on electric-powered, life-sustaining medical equipment.

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