Lineworkers from FPL and Other Utilities Honored By State

“The hardworking men and women of Florida who risk their lives daily in extremely dangerous situations to ensure the reliable delivery of electric energy to all citizens of the state are most deserving of gratitude, appreciation and honor,” said State Rep. Seth McKeel of Lakeland, reading from an honorary resolution that designated August 26 as “Lineworker Appreciation Day” in the State of Florida.

Judging from the scene outside the Florida Capitol on March 2, 2012, you might have thought that lawmakers were facing a serious power outage - with bucket trucks and hard hat-clad lineworkers gathered by the dozens. But quite the contrary, lawmakers had invited utility employees from across the state, including many from Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) to recognize them for their outstanding service.

“The hardworking men and women of Florida who risk their lives daily in extremely dangerous situations to ensure the reliable delivery of electric energy to all citizens of the state are most deserving of gratitude, appreciation and honor,” said State Rep. Seth McKeel of Lakeland, reading from an honorary resolution that designated August 26 as “Lineworker Appreciation Day” in the State of Florida.

McKeel was motivated by Tracy Moore, wife of former Lakeland Electric Lineman Marc Moore, who died in an unfortunate accident several years ago. Tracy has been working to keep her husband’s memory alive by honoring lineworkers who respond to emergencies and often work in harm’s way to restore power for Floridians.

Lineworkers from many Florida utilities converged on Tallahassee for the announcement. FPL was represented by five North Florida employees - Distribution Supervisor Danny Dean, Sr. Line Specialist Bob Harrison and Restoration Specialists Corey Koshinski, Wes Richardson and Otis Smith.

“We came to show support and respect for our colleagues across the state,” said Dean. “While safety is always our top priority, there’s always an element of risk involved in our jobs, but we take a great deal of pride in serving the people of Florida. It’s an honor to be recognized for the work that we do.”

The line specialists were joined by several members of FPL’s Tallahassee office, who turned out to support their fellow employees.

“It’s important for all of us to honor the vital work that our line specialists perform every day to ensure our customers have safe, affordable, reliable electricity,” said Paul Hamilton, FPL Vice President of State Legislative Affairs. “They've got tough jobs, and we're proud that the state is recognizing the work they do.”

About Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest electric utility in Florida and one of the largest rate-regulated utilities in the United States. FPL serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and is a leading employer in the state with approximately 10,000 employees. The company consistently outperforms national averages for service reliability while customer bills are below the national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and one of the leading energy efficiency programs among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla. - based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit http://www.FPL.com.

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