FPL Expects Power Back by End of Weekend in South Florida

There's hope. The thousands of people on Florida's east coast stuck without power should have it restored by this Sunday at the latest, Florida Power & LIght tweeted Tuesday morning. Those on Florida's west coast, which took a stronger hit from Hurricane Irma, can expect electricity by September 22.

By Chuck Strouse

September 12, 2017

Florida Power & Light

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There's hope.

The thousands of people on Florida's east coast stuck without power should have it restored by this Sunday at the latest, Florida Power & LIght tweeted Tuesday morning.

Those on Florida's west coast, which took a stronger hit from Hurricane Irma, can expect electricity by September 22.

Possible exceptions include areas hit by tornadoes or those badly damaged.

#UPDATE: East Coast - estimated power restoration by end of weekend, possible exception in areas hit by tornadoes, flooding & severe damage.
— FPL (@insideFPL) September 12, 2017

The company has sent a "cavalry" of workers from across the Southeast to work on downed power lines and blown transformers.

And it has spent tens of millions of dollars in the past few years to "harden" its system so that it is more impervious to hurricane damage. It has also been allowed to substantially raise rates, which critics have said is unjustified.

Chuck Strouse is the former editor in chief of Miami New Times. He has shared two Pulitzer Prizes and won dozens of other awards. He is an honors graduate of Brown University and has worked at newspapers including the Miami Herald and Los Angeles Times.

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