FPUA Receives National Commendation for Electric Restoration Efforts

American Public Power Association recognizes FPUA for providing aid to Tallahassee

Fort Pierce Utilities Authority has received a national commendation from the American Public Power Association for its support in electric power restoration efforts in Tallahassee in September, following Hurricane Helene.

On September 26, a team of FPUA line workers was on the way home from providing mutual aid support to Morgan City, Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Francine. On their way home, Hurricane Helene began threatening the West Coast of Florida, and that crew detoured, stopping over in Tallahassee to ride out the storm alongside our public power partners and provide mutual aid support as soon as it was safe to do so.

Hurricane Helene made landfall as a strong Category 4 hurricane along Florida’s Big Bend, causing significant storm surges and over 1,240,000 power outages statewide. Thanks to mutual aid efforts from Florida’s public power utilities, and utilities from 11 other states, more than 99 percent of Florida customers served by Florida public power utilities had restored power within 48 hours of landfall.

“Mutual aid support in the time of need is one of the great honors and responsibilities that we are proud to uphold as a municipal utility provider,” said FPUA Director of Utilities Javier Cisneros. “We were fortunate during Hurricane Helene to be clear of Helene’s path and able to send a team of dedicated line-workers to support our neighbors. In other instances, we are fortunate to be on the receiving end of mutual aid for the benefit of our hometown.”

FPUA participates in the American Public Power Association’s Mutual Aid Network, which coordinates with utilities and authorities during widespread outages. For more information on FPUA and its commitment to mutual aid, visit www.FPUA.com or PublicPower.org/MutualAid.