Utility steps up award-winning restoration efforts with investments in infrastructure and technology ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (May 11, 2010) – Progress Energy Florida is preparing for what forecasters have labeled an “above average” hurricane season with critical investments in the infrastructure and tools needed to safely and efficiently restore power following storms. The latest additions to the company’s storm response arsenal include four state-of-the-art mobile command centers that will be positioned in the hardest hit areas following a storm. The mobile command centers will accelerate the company’s award-winning storm response efforts by enabling better management of its field resources. Each of the four, electric generator-powered mobile command centers is equipped with six workstations, which include satellite phone and internet capabilities. Following a storm, the mobile command centers will act as self-sufficient emergency command posts, giving Progress Energy the ability to respond more quickly to isolated or severely damaged areas. The units will also serve as individual processing locations allowing field supervisors to effectively manage the flow of the thousands of employees from numerous utilities responding to a single staging site following a storm. “Our goal is to make the best use of all of our resources in the field following a storm,” said Progress Energy Florida President and CEO Vincent Dolan. “Deploying and utilizing our new mobile command centers will help shorten the length of storm-related outages while cutting our overall restoration costs.” The mobile command centers were first used in the field in December following fierce winter weather in the company’s North Carolina service territory, where the centers’ functionality was proven in harsh weather conditions. The new mobile command centers represent only a small portion of the company’s storm-hardening and preparation investments. In the past three years, Progress Energy has invested thousands of staff hours and more than $460 million to storm harden the company’s infrastructure that serves more than 1.6 million customers in 35 Florida counties. This includes the replacement of poles and other equipment upgrades to minimize the likelihood of outages when storms strike. Whenever a major storm causes outages in Progress Energy’s service territory, the company dispatches technicians to assess damage and identify opportunities for improvement. Progress Energy also conducts a weeklong, systemwide storm drill every year to fine-tune response plans. In addition, the company has strengthened its relationship with forecasters to better anticipate the impact of an approaching storm. A key part of Progress Energy’s efforts to minimize the impact of storms is the year-round program of trimming or removing trees growing dangerously close to power lines. In addition to presenting safety concerns, such vegetation can greatly increase the likelihood of outages when hurricane-force winds batter the area. But no system can be completely storm proof, and major storms will cause power outages. When outages occur, the company’s award-winning restoration team responds quickly. Additionally, the company’s state-of-the-art customer service centers are equipped and staffed to respond to power outages and to help direct crews to affected areas quickly, 24 hours a day. To keep customers informed following a storm, the company has developed an online outage map showing up-to-date information about current disruptions in service. The outage map can be viewed at www.progress-energy.com/outagemap. Progress Energy also sends updates on storm-related outage restorations via Twitter. Customers can follow Progress Energy at www.twitter.com/progressenergy. For more storm-related information for Progress Energy customers, visit www.progress-energy.com/storms. Progress Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), provides electricity and related services to more than 1.6 million customers in Florida. The company is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Fla., and serves a territory encompassing more than 20,000 square miles including the cities of St. Petersburg and Clearwater, as well as the Central Florida area surrounding Orlando. Progress Energy Florida is pursuing a balanced approach to meeting the future energy needs of the region. That balance includes increased energy-efficiency programs, investments in renewable energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system. For more information about Progress Energy, visit progress-energy.com. # # # Contact: Corporate Communications, (866) 520-NEWS (6397) Follow Progress Energy on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ProgressEnergy |
