Sponsored: FPL Reveals Upcoming Enhancements for Sarasota County to Strengthen and Modernize the Electrical Grid

We’re upgrading your neighborhood: In 2025, FPL is set to enhance Sarasota County’s power infrastructure as part of its dedication to minimizing outages and expediting power restoration post-storms*

• 15 Storm Secure Underground Program (SSUP) projects will replace overhead power lines with robust underground lines.
• Four main power lines, crucial for facilities like hospitals and emergency services, will be reinforced to accelerate restoration times during storms.
• 1,027 miles of power lines will undergo inspection and vegetation trimming to mitigate a primary cause of outages.
• 19,407 power poles in the county will be inspected, replacing or reinforcing those that fail to meet FPL’s high standards.

Across the state: FPL is continuously advancing technology and fortifying the energy grid to enhance reliability, thereby preventing outages in all weather conditions:

• In 2024, 2.7 million customer interruptions were averted thanks to self-healing smart grid technology.
• 227,000 intelligent devices have been integrated across the grid to promptly identify potential issues.
• Since 2019, over 3,000 projects have successfully converted overhead neighborhood lines to underground.
• Nationwide, 82% of FPL’s primary power lines have been either reinforced or buried to boost storm resilience.
• 96% of transmission structures consist of steel or concrete, moving away from wooden structures.
• Advanced technology is utilized to detect and manage tree and debris interference with FPL equipment.

A word from Devaney Iglesias, local external affairs manager for FPL: “Our team is devoted to ensuring safe, reliable electric service for Sarasota County while keeping bills as low as possible. Although no energy grid can be storm-proof, these upgrades have improved service reliability by over 40% in the last two decades, enhancing daily reliability and resilience during severe weather events.”

For perspective: An annual report submitted on March 1 to the Florida Public Service Commission highlights FPL’s best service reliability record ever last year, achieving the lowest average outage minutes—outdoing the previous company-best set in 2023.

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* These upgrades reflect planned projects as of May 1, 2025, and are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances such as severe weather and hurricanes.

Key Information

• Planned Projects in 2025: 15 SSUP projects and reinforcement of four main power lines serving critical facilities.
• Inspection Efforts: 1,027 miles of power lines inspected and 19,407 power poles evaluated.
• Statewide Reliability Enhancements: 2.7 million interruptions avoided in 2024 and continuous advancements in smart grid technology.
• Commitment to Reliability: Devaney Iglesias emphasizes a 40% improvement in service reliability over 20 years.