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FPL Unveils Three-year Upgrade Plan

Florida's largest utility says it's using lessons learned from last year's storms to strengthen its grid against hurricanes and other extreme weather. Florida Power and Light is putting its plan on the fast-track.

FPL has already spent nearly $460 million over the past five years to fortify its system against storms. The utility's new plans call for investing another half a billion dollars for upgrades over the next three years. FPL spokesman Greg Brostowicz say the improvement plans build on lessons learned from Superstorm Sandy and flooding from other tropical storms last year.
"We haven't been hit by a hurricane in several years. And we have to continue to prepare. And these investments we're making now will help us to restore power to customers faster and get the economy moving again and our lives back to normal more quickly."

The improvements include stronger utility poles and a new system that would monitor water levels at sub-stations at risk for flooding. The new plans have been submitted to Florida's Public Service Commission for approval. FPL officials say the upgrades would have no immediate impact on customers' electric bills.