FPL still investigating Idalia outages with Longboat underground utilities

The project to bury utilities on Longboat Key led by Florida Power & Light continues, with no definitive completion time given. 

At the Sept. 26 commission workshop, Public Works Director Isaac Brownman presented the latest update, accompanied by a team of representatives from FPL, including FPL External Affairs Manager Devaney Iglesias. 

Commissioners discussed the need for more regular updates between the agencies to get the project finished. 

On Oct. 24, Iglesias sent a letter to Town Manager Howard Tipton, saying that bi-weekly meetings have been continued between the town’s project manager, consultant and contractor. The meetings are supposed to continue throughout the conversion process. 

The investigation into the Hurricane Idalia transformer failure is still ongoing, according to Iglesias, and results will be communicated once received.

Iglesias said FPL anticipates the required resources to complete the project will be available early first quarter of 2024, and the team “will continue to work with the town’s contractor to complete the project early next year.” 

“We are focused on getting this to the finish line and committed to doing whatever it takes to make that happen,” Tipton said in an emailed response to Iglesias. “We’re just asking that FPL have that same mindset.”