HomeMy Public PortalAboutRES 07/01RESOLUTION NO. 007 -1
A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN
OF GULF STREAM, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA,
SUPPORTING THE CONVERSION OF OVERHEAD ELECTRIC
DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES TO UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
AND ENCOURAGING THE FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION TO IMPLEMENT ALL REASONABLE MEASURES
TO ENCOURAGE THE CONVERSION OF ELECTRIC
DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES TO UNDERGROUND FACILITIES.
WHEREAS, all Florida citizens, businesses, and institutions require reliable
electric service and reliable electric distribution infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, in the tropical storm and hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005,
Florida experienced unprecedented numbers of landfalling tropical storms and hurricanes
impacting Florida and her citizens, and also experienced unprecedented damage to the
overhead electric distribution systems of Florida's electric utilities, resulting in
widespread and prolonged outages of electric service; and
WHEREAS, numerous long -term forecasts of tropical weather activity indicate
that Florida is likely to be impacted by more, and possibly more severe, tropical weather
events over the next ten to twenty years than were experienced over the period 1960 to
2003; and
WHEREAS, it is generally recognized that underground electric distribution
facilities are significantly more reliable, and less subject to wind damage, than overhead
facilities in tropical storms and hurricanes; and
WHEREAS, wide -area conversions of overhead electric distribution facilities to
underground facilities are reasonably expected to provide significant reliability, cost
savings and other benefits both to customers in the areas converted and also to the
utility's general body of customers, including, without limitation, reduced or eliminated
storm restoration costs in many tropical and other storm events, reduced or eliminated
vegetation management (tree- trimming) costs, reduced costs due to damage claims due to
electrical contact accidents, preserved revenues, and the substantial economic benefits
flowing from reduced and eliminated electric service outages; and
WHEREAS, wide -area underground conversions will result in enhanced traffic
safety and fewer accidents involving vehicles striking overhead electric facilities; and
WHEREAS, wide -area underground conversions will enhance environmental
values and aesthetic values; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Gulf Stream, Florida and the residents of Gulf Stream
are customers of Florida Power & Light Company ( "FPL "); and
WHEREAS, the Town of Gulf Stream is a participant in the Municipal
Underground Utilities Consortium, a group of Florida cities and towns that have joined
together to fund a comprehensive evaluation of the costs and benefits of underground
conversion projects, and the resulting cost - effectiveness study, has shown that substantial
benefits would accrue to FPL and its general body of customers from underground
conversions; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWN COMMISSION
OF THE TOWN OF GULF STREAM, FLORIDA, as follows:
Section 1. The Town of Gulf Stream believes that all responsible agencies of
Florida government, including the Florida Public Service Commission, should encourage
the conversion of overhead electric distribution facilities to underground facilities to the
maximum extent possible.
Section 2. The Florida Public Service Commission is strongly encouraged to
ensure that any utility tariff provisions relating to underground electric conversions
include and reflect all values that such conversions provide, including not only the
specific cost savings benefits, such as reduced storm restoration costs and reduced
vegetation management costs, mentioned above, but also the general economic benefits
that flow to all citizens from reduced outages.
Section 3. Where there is a difference of expert opinion as to the values and
benefits of underground conversions, the Florida Public Service Commission is strongly
encouraged to require utilities subject to its jurisdiction, including FPL, to reflect the
greatest justifiable benefits in the utility's tariffs, so as to encourage underground
conversions to the maximum extent possible.
Section 4. The above - stated policies favoring the conversion of overhead
electric distribution facilities to underground facilities are hereby adopted by the Town of
Gulf Stream, Florida..
Section 5. This Resolution shall be forwarded to the Florida Public Service
Commission, to the Town of Gulf Stream's representatives in the Florida Legislature, to
Florida Power & Light Company, to the Board of County Commissioners of Palm Beach
County, Florida, and to any other interested parties.
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Section 6. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon passage.
PASSED AND ADOPTED IN REGULAR, ADJOURNED SESSION OF THE
Town. of
Town Camnission OF THE Gulf Stream ASSEMBLED THIS 12.__ TH DAY
OF JANUARY, 2007.
CPA, 1( LA(—
William F. Koch, Jr., Mayor
(SEAL)
ATTEST:
Rita Taylor, Town Clerk
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Fred B. Devitt III, Commissioner
Muriel Anderson, Commissioner
Chris D. Wheeler, Commissioner