Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAboutRES 05/03RESOLUTION NO. 005 -03 A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF GULF STREAM, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA, URGING MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO SUPPORT MUNICIPALITIES IN THEIR QUEST TO PLACE OVERHEAD UTILITY LINES UNDERGROUND. WHEREAS, Florida communities learned from last summer's intense hurricane season that undergrounding is indeed a public safety issue and not just an aesthetic issue; and WHEREAS, undergrounding is not a panacea, and each municipality must decide for itself if the benefits outweigh the cost; and WHEREAS, municipalities that are willing to invest millions of dollars in undergrounding should be allowed to do so. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF GULF STREAM, FLORIDA Section 1. That the Town of Gulf Stream urges the Florida Legislature to: Support Senator Ron Klein's Bill S0526 to form an Electric Utility Task Force, which will determine, among other items, the cost effectiveness of converting overhead electric lines to underground when these facilities are replaced or relocated. As part of this study the Task Force shall consider all of the costs and benefits to utilities, utility customers, and the general public of placing some or all electric utility distribution and transmission systems and facilities underground, including all of the potential reliability, safety and economic benefits of such installations and conversions. Direct the Florida Public Service Commission to participate directly in such Electric Utility Task Force and to exercise its full jurisdiction to require public utilities to convert overhead facilities to underground facilities, on a reasonable schedule, especially where overhead facilities are being retired, where such conversions are determined to be in the public interest, taking into account all costs and benefits of such conversions to the public as a whole. Where the PSC determines that the total costs exceeds total benefits, the PSC shall determine the fair contributions to be made by persons, local governments, and other entities requesting conversions to underground service, such that such contributions fairly reflect all benefits the underground service provides to the public. • Require FPL and other utility companies to be more responsive to and cooperative with municipalities that are pursuing undergrounding. • Require FPL and other utility companies to quote a fair price, fully justified by reasonable unit prices when and if a municipality desires to place overhead lines underground. • Require FPL and other utility companies to cooperate with private contractors who may be hired by the municipality to perform said work at a lesser cost than that quoted by the utility company. • Require, if that municipality later chooses to acquire the distribution system from the utility company, the municipal investment in undergrounding to be deducted from the net book value of the system being purchased. Section 2. The Town Clerk is hereby directed to provide a copy of this resolution to Governor Jeb Bush, Senate President Tom Lee, House Speaker Allan Bense, the Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation and the coastal communities of Palm Beach County. PASSED AND ADOPTED IN REGULAR, ADJOURNED SESSION OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF GULF STREAM ASSEMBLED THIS 8'i' DAY OF APRIL 2005. A 1A Mayor \ ATTEST: pi, 4 Z' -/—,m J , � k Town Clerk Commissioner Conunissioner