In a chart filed recently with the Florida Public Service Commission, Miami-based Florida Power & Light Co. says Hurricane Frances, which pelted the state with wind and rain for two days over the Labor Day weekend, cost the utility $267.2 million, according to a report in the Palm Beach Post.
A big chunk of that went to personnel: FPL paid out $48 million to its own employees and $151.4 million to outside contract workers who worked for nearly two weeks to turn all the lights back on.
FPL benefited from having extra poles, transformers and other supplies on hand three weeks later when it came to restoring power after Hurricane Jeanne hit the state. Jeanne's final tab was $233.7 million. But materials costs were the lowest of the three storms, at $11 million — about half what it cost FPL for Charley and two-thirds of what it cost for Frances.
Charley, a Category 4 storm that forced FPL to rebuild much of its electrical system on Florida's west coast, ended up costing the utility the least of the three storms, at $209 million.
Payroll for contract and other utility workers was the lowest for this storm.
All told, the three hurricanes cost FPL about $710 million.
The utility is asking the PSC if FPL can collect a total of $354 million from its customers to help pay the tab.
PSC staffers last week recommended that FPL be allowed to collect the storm surcharge beginning next month. The PSC will consider the issue Jan. 4.
