About Us — Florida Power & Light Company

FPL Group

Florida Power & Light

NextEra Energy Resources

Providing Clean, Reliable Energy

Florida Power & Light Company is one of the largest and highest-performing electric utilities in the nation. In 2008, FPL served 4.5 million customer accounts. Floridians expect affordable, reliable, clean-energy solutions now and in the future, and FPL is committed to meeting this expectation by investing to make its infrastructure stronger, smarter, cleaner, more efficient and less reliant on any single source of fuel.

Reliability Among the Best

FPL customers enjoy overall service reliability levels that are among the best in the country. The reliability of FPL’s distribution system – the poles, wires and transformers that service streets and neighborhoods – was the best on record in 2008. The average amount of time FPL customers were without power due to distribution issues in 2008 fell to 67 minutes from 73 minutes the year before, an accomplishment that is 47 percent better than the latest national average of 126 minutes in 2007. In addition, the system average frequency of power interruptions was reduced by 12 percent, and the average number of times a customer experienced momentary power interruptions decreased by 8 percent.

FPL’s overall distribution reliability for the last decade has, on average, been 45 percent better than the Edison Electric Institute industry average, and we expect that FPL’s proactive approach to reliability will continue to improve performance. In 2009, FPL will invest substantially in distribution reliability programs aimed at further reducing customer outages through aggressive preventive maintenance projects on its overhead and underground facilities.

Strengthening the System Against Hurricanes

Following the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, which produced seven storms in a 15-month period, FPL responded to the state’s call to maintain a high level of storm preparation. FPL embarked on a series of investments and expenditures to strengthen its electrical infrastructure to better withstand the impact of severe weather, investments that continue today and provide important benefits to our communities.

System Hardening

n 2008, FPL upgraded and strengthened main lines that serve 49 acute medical-care facilities and two power plants. In 2009, FPL plans to complete the strengthening of power lines and equipment serving the remaining 18 acute medical-care facilities in its service area to help ensure public safety.
In 2008, FPL strengthened poles, wires and equipment on 21 main lines serving areas where businesses such as grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations serve the basic needs of the community.
FPL hardened 32 major highway crossings in 2008.
In 2009, FPL plans to strengthen power lines serving 26 hospitals, 35 emergency (911) facilities, one emergency operations center, two police stations, one fire station, 40 major highway crossings, and 11 power lines running along major thoroughfares.

Pole and Line Inspections

In 2008, FPL completed a second full year of its eight-year pole inspection program. Since May 2006, the company has inspected more than 380,000 poles for strength and health, or about one-third of its 1.1 million poles. FPL will inspect another 139,000 poles this year, reinforcing and replacing them as needed.
In 2008, FPL used infrared technology called Thermovision to inspect more than 2,800 miles of power lines to detect and address issues before they became problems or outages.

Transmission Structure Inspections

In 2008, FPL inspected more than 16,000 transmission structures, or 25 percent of the total. In 2009, the company plans to inspect more structures and complete transmission work identified during the 2008 inspections.

Line Clearing

In 2008, FPL continued its three-year cycle of clearing vegetation from main power lines (feeders) and completed the second year of its approved schedule to implement a six-year cycle for neighborhood power lines (laterals). After two full years, FPL is on plan for achieving its six-year average lateral trim cycle by 2013.
FPL trimmed trees and cleared vegetation from more than 11,000 miles of power lines in 2008 to help prevent outages.

Diverse Fuel Mix Provides Reliable, Clean Energy

FPL uses a diverse mix of fuels at its power plants to generate reliable electricity. Because of its fuel mix, FPL is recognized as a clean-energy company, with one of the lowest emissions profiles among U.S. utilities. In fact, coal – the highest carbon-emitting fuel – makes up almost 50 percent of the national fuel mix but only 6 percent of the fuel that FPL uses to generate power for its customers. FPL currently obtains most of its electricity (53 percent) from clean-burning natural gas. Nuclear power, which produces no greenhouse gas emissions, is responsible for another significant portion (22 percent) of power production. And FPL currently is in the process of building 110 megawatts of solar energy at three facilities across the Sunshine State.

The Nation’s Most Efficient Power Plant Fleet

It takes fuel to produce the electricity Floridians use every day. FPL has the most efficient fossil fuel fleet of any large-scale electric utility in the nation. FPL has improved fossil fleet fuel efficiency by 12 percent since 2000 and by 19 percent since 1990. Such effective performance results in significantly lower fuel costs and reduced emission rates.

Outstanding Operating Performance

FPL continued to achieve impressive levels of operating performance, placing it among the best electric utilities in the United States. The percentage of time FPL’s fossil-fueled power plants are available to generate electricity is among the best in our industry. Also in 2008, the availability of FPL’s nuclear plants exceeded the national average.

Leadership in Energy Efficiency

Thanks to its leading energy-management programs and other efforts, FPL helps customers save energy and keep their electric bills lower than they otherwise might be. FPL ranks No. 1 among electric utilities nationwide in energy-efficiency programs, according to the latest U.S. Department of Energy data. Because of its partnership with customers, FPL has reduced more megawatts through energy-efficiency programs than any other utility in the country. Customer program participation began in 1981, and new programs were added over the years. From the program’s inception through the end of 2008, approximate participation numbers include:

Residential Programs

2.57 million Home Energy Surveys performed
769,000 Building Envelope participants
1.17 million rebates for high-efficiency A/C systems
465,000 A/C duct system tests and repairs
20,800 FPL BuildSmart^® homes constructed
772,700 customers enrolled in the FPL On Call^® program

Business Programs

129,100 Business Energy Evaluations performed
19,000 upgraded lighting systems installed
14,900 high-efficiency A/C systems installed
20,100 customers enrolled in the FPL Business On Call^® program

These efforts have allowed FPL to avoid building 12 medium-size power plants, while keeping customer rates affordable and providing reliable service that meets the state’s energy demand.

Affordable, Reliable and Cleaner Energy

With flat customer growth at FPL and lower electricity usage, 2008 was a challenging year. Despite difficult economic times, FPL made tremendous progress implementing its long-term generation strategy to provide customers affordable, reliable energy solutions that are cleaner and more efficient. During 2008, FPL:

Broke ground at the first of three planned utility-scale solar generation facilities. FPL will build 110 megawatts of solar power on FPL-owned property in DeSoto County, at its Martin plant site and at the Kennedy Space Center. Together, the sites will prevent the release of nearly 3.5 million tons of greenhouse gases over the life of the projects, which is the equivalent of removing 25,000 cars from the road per year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Continued construction of two 1,220-megawatt natural gas, combined-cycle generating units (West County Energy Center) in western Palm Beach County. The two units are expected to begin serving customers in 2009.
Received approval from the Florida Public Service Commission to build a third combined-cycle generating unit at the West County Energy Center. Unit 3 is expected to begin serving customers in 2011 with 1,220 megawatts of electric generation capability.
Received approval from the PSC to modernize the Cape Canaveral and Riviera power plants. When complete in 2013 and 2014, respectively, the modernized units will each produce approximately 1,200 megawatts of electricity using 33 percent less fuel than currently used.
Initiated a project that will add 400 megawatts of capacity at the St. Lucie and Turkey Point nuclear power plants by 2012.

On March 18, 2009, FPL filed a rate proposal with the PSC that would support investment in improving fuel efficiency, generating cleaner energy and enhancing system reliability while keeping customer bills low. Floridians expect affordable, reliable, clean energy solutions now and in the future, and the company has a plan of action to meet this expectation by investing to make its infrastructure stronger, smarter, cleaner, more efficient and less reliant on any single source of fuel. FPL’s bills are among the lowest in the state and below the national average as well, and the company is working hard to keep them that way by making smart investments to benefit its customers. These investments help to reduce the impact of volatile fuel prices, which in turn helps to keep customers’ total bills lower over the longer term as well. As a result of the company’s emphasis on operating efficiently, FPL’s retail base rates are 17 percent lower now than in 1985 – the last time a general base-rate increase was sought and granted – despite inflation of 99 percent for the same period.

Taking Care of the Community

FPL strives to be a good and caring neighbor by supporting community needs and investing in the success of the neighborhoods it serves.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program advocacy
– LIHEAP appropriations are determined annually, and advocacy efforts are an important part of the success of the program. For the fourth straight year, FPL sent employees to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Congress and orchestrated an e-mail campaign among employees and partner organizations in support of LIHEAP funding increases. In addition, FPL continued to support the Florida Energy Affordability Coalition, which FPL helped to initiate in 2006. In 2008, the coalition developed a series of recommendations related to energy affordability that were presented to the Florida Legislature in January 2009. FLEAC membership includes other Florida utilities, government agencies, and low-income and senior organizations, all working together to identify and advance initiatives that maximize payment assistance resources for eligible low-income and elderly customers.
FPL Care to Share^®
– This program provides emergency assistance to customers who are in crisis and unable to pay their electric bills. In 2008:
- For the third straight year, FPL made a corporate contribution of $1 million.
- More than 1,100 employees pledged nearly $50,000 through FPL Care to Share program payroll deductions, more than doubling the 2007 donation total.
- FPL implemented a new Care to Share program donation channel for customers through www.FPL.com.
BuildSmart^® for Humanity
– Since 2005, FPL has donated more than $1 million to build 15 homes for low-income customers and has incorporated BuildSmart energy-efficiency features into more than 600 Habitat for Humanity homes. The improvements are expected to reduce the homeowners’ monthly electric bills by up to 30 percent compared to similar homes not upgraded to BuildSmart standards.
Home Energy Makeovers
– In a collaborative effort by FPL employees, local government, community organizations, conservation contractors and other partners, free energy-efficiency upgrades have been installed in the homes of more than 250 low income families since 2006 (100 in 2008). The improvements can save the homeowners up to 25 percent on their annual energy bills.
AWARE
– Through employee observation and reporting, AWARE helps to identify and refer needy elders (and others) to various social-service organizations that may provide the help they need and deserve. In 2008, more than 60 reports were generated by alert FPL employees, and many elders benefited from assistance and services they might not otherwise have received.
Community Volunteer Corps
– Employees and their families dedicated more than 13,700 hours of their time in 2008 to make a difference in their communities through a wide variety of projects, such as cleaning shorelines, renovating playgrounds, participating in breast-cancer walks, mentoring, and supplying dry and canned goods for holiday food drives.

In addition to FPL’s efforts, FPL Group as a whole supports the community as well.

United Way
– Since 2000, FPL Group and its employees have donated more than $25.5 million and countless hours of volunteer work.
FPL Group Foundation
– In 2008, FPL Group Foundation donated $1 million to provide emergency assistance for food, clothing and housing to FPL’s most vulnerable customers. A portion of the funds were directed to provide energy-efficient products and education to help customers in need decrease their monthly expenses. The Salvation Army is administering the funds on the foundation’s behalf throughout the 35 counties FPL serves. Also, in 2008, FPL Group Foundation made a $500,000 commitment to Camillus House, an organization that has played a central role in addressing the needs of the homeless in Miami. A new FPL Welcome Center will be the initial point of contact for individuals entering the campus to access basic human and emergency services.

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