FPL - Florida Power & Light Company

09/28/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/28/2024 09:23

FPL has now restored 93% of customers impacted by Hurricane Helene; crews continue to focus on hardest-hit areas

The latest: With more than 634,000 customers restored, Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) crews remain focused on the areas hardest-hit by Hurricane Helene, a powerful Category 4 storm that caused widespread damage across the Southeast U.S. Customers without power can go to FPL customer outage relief stations for ice, water, answers to restoration-related questions and other assistance.

Why it matters: Hurricane Helene devastated the entire Southeast, leaving millions without power, including hundreds of thousands of FPL customers. FPL was able to restore power to 93% of affected customers within 24 hours of the storm exiting the state. Our crews remain focused on the hardest-hit areas where flooding and heavy vegetation make restoration more difficult.

By the numbers as of 11 a.m.:

  • More than 634,000 customers restored.
  • Approximately 48,000 customers without power.
  • More than 180,000 outages avoided due to FPL's smart grid technology.

Restoration estimates: FPL understands the importance of knowing when power will be restored - the company is committed to providing the following best estimates for restoration:

Click here to view a map of estimated restoration times.

FPL Estimated Time of Restoration

Status

County

Essentially Restored

Alachua, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Volusia

95% by end of day,
Saturday, Sept. 28

Baker, Bradford, Nassau, Putnam, Union

95% by end of day,
Sunday, Sept. 29

Manatee

95% by end of day,
Monday, Sept. 30*

Columbia, Suwannee

*Except those who cannot safely accept service or are located in heavily flooded areas

Some homes and businesses may have suffered damage that makes them unable to safely accept power. Customers who notice damage need to contact a licensed electrician prior to power being restored.

A word from FPL President and CEO Armando Pimentel:

"We are laser-focused on restoring power to every single customer. The power outages that remain are in the hardest-hit areas and are more challenging to restore as our crews must deal with flooding and heavy vegetation. If your power is out, know that FPL will not stop until your service is restored."

What FPL is doing:

  • Restoring power as part of its around-the-clock restoration efforts and converging crews to the hardest hit areas.
  • Continuing to assess damage, including using drones to speed restoration.
  • Coordinating with local emergency management officials to clear roads for lineworkers.

What customers should do after the storm:

  • Safety is FPL's top priority for its crews and customers. Even when the winds subside, conditions can be dangerous. Customers should continue to heed warnings from local emergency officials.
  • Stay far away from downed power lines, flooding and debris; assume that lines are energized.
  • Use extreme caution while driving. Power interruptions may cause traffic signals to stop working without warning. If you come to an intersection with a non-working traffic signal, Florida law requires that you treat it as a four-way stop.
  • If you are using a portable generator, follow the manufacturer's recommendations for proper use. Never operate a generator inside your home or garage.
  • Immediately after a storm, FPL knows where power is out, so there is no need to contact FPL unless your neighbors have power, and you do not.
  • If customers encounter dangerous situations such as downed power lines or sparking electrical equipment, they should call 911 or 1-800-4-OUTAGE (1-800-468-8243).

How customers can stay connected:

FPL communicates restoration information to customers frequently through the news media and the following resources:   

Visuals to download:

How to reach us:

Additional resources: