At the opening of Florida Power & Light Company’s (NYSE:FPL) DeSoto Next
Generation Solar Energy Center – the largest solar photovoltaic power
plant in the nation – President Barack Obama announced that FPL would be
awarded $200 million in Recovery Act funding to invest in a stronger,
smarter, cleaner and more efficient electricity grid.
With support from the President’s Recovery Act commitment to spur the
transition to the Smart Grid, FPL’s $800 million Energy Smart Florida
project will implement revolutionary new technologies that will help FPL
customers better control their energy consumption and enable the company
to provide more reliable electric service.
“Through these investments in a variety of smart grid technologies,
utilities like Florida Power & Light will also be able to monitor the
performance of its electricity grid in real time, which means they'll be
able to identify and correct service interruptions more quickly and
effectively,” President Obama said Tuesday at the DeSoto plant opening.
But Energy Smart Florida isn’t FPL’s first effort to improve reliability
for customers. Throughout October, FPL has been issuing weekly
“Money-Saving Myth Busters” to educate customers about common,
energy-related misconceptions. It’s fitting that the final Energy
Awareness Month myth involves the issue of reliability:
Myth: “FPL waits for a power
outage to occur before responding.”
Fact: FPL works proactively to
improve the reliability of its electric service, investing in technology
and year-round preventive maintenance to stop outages before they start.
Outage prevention and service efficiency result in lower costs to
customers and reliability that is 47 percent better than the national
average.
The conventional utility approach to power outages is reactive.
FPL is breaking with that status quo and developing ways to predict and
prevent power outages before they occur — a proactive approach.
FPL employees are using smart technology to spot warning signs of
potential outages and take action before an outage occurs.
By strengthening and incorporating smart technologies into the
transmission and distribution systems that serve millions of Floridians,
FPL’s electrical infrastructure will be less vulnerable to disruptions
and less costly to maintain.
“Prevention can be less costly than treatment, whether you’re talking
about healthcare or power outages. The least expensive outage to restore
is one that never occurs in the first place,” said FPL President and CEO
Armando J. Olivera. “That’s why we’re making investments in smart
technology and preventive maintenance to improve reliability and help us
to stop outages before they start.”
FPL is investing to make its infrastructure smarter by installing
intelligent devices on the power lines, equipment and substations that
deliver electricity from its power plants to homes and businesses. At
FPL’s performance and diagnostic centers, employees use historical data,
real-time system monitoring, smart technology and predictive analysis to
measure, monitor, control and enhance the health and performance of the
grid.
As a result of FPL’s proactive approach to preventing outages, FPL
customers experience fewer and shorter outages, fewer brief
interruptions or flickers, fewer power surges and sags and improved
system performance in good weather and bad. Energy Smart Florida will
help FPL improve its service even more.
Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) 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 nearly 11,000 employees. The company
consistently outperforms national averages for service reliability while
customer bills are well below the national average. A clean energy
leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and the No. 1
energy efficiency program among utilities nationwide. FPL is a
subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla.-based FPL Group, Inc. (NYSE:FPL). For
more information, visit www.FPL.com.
Cautionary Statements And Risk Factors That May Affect Future
Results
In connection with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (Reform Act), FPL Group, Inc. (FPL Group)
and Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) are hereby providing cautionary
statements identifying important factors that could cause FPL Group's or
FPL's actual results to differ materially from those projected in
forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Reform Act)
made by or on behalf of FPL Group and FPL in this press release, on
their respective websites, in response to questions or otherwise. Any
statements that express, or involve discussions as to, adjusted earnings
or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, future
events or performance, climate change strategy or growth strategies
(often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as
will, will likely result, are expected to, will continue, is
anticipated, aim, believe, could, should, would, estimated, may, plan,
potential, projection, target, outlook, predict and intend or words of
similar meaning) are not statements of historical facts and may be
forward-looking. Forward-looking statements involve estimates,
assumptions and uncertainties. Accordingly, any such statements are
qualified in their entirety by reference to, and are accompanied by, the
following important factors (in addition to any assumptions and other
factors referred to specifically in connection with such forward-looking
statements) that could cause FPL Group's or FPL's actual results to
differ materially from those contained or implied in forward-looking
statements made by or on behalf of FPL Group and FPL.
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such
statement is made, and FPL Group and FPL undertake no obligation to
update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances,
including unanticipated events, after the date on which such statement
is made, unless otherwise required by law. New factors emerge from time
to time and it is not possible for management to predict all of such
factors, nor can it assess the impact of each such factor on the
business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors,
may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained or
implied in any forward-looking statement.
The following are some important factors that could have a significant
impact on FPL Group's and FPL's operations and financial results, and
could cause FPL Group's and FPL's actual results or outcomes to differ
materially from those discussed or implied in the forward-looking
statements:
FPL Group and FPL are subject to complex laws and regulations and to
changes in laws and regulations as well as changing governmental
policies and regulatory actions. FPL holds franchise agreements
with local municipalities and counties, and must renegotiate expiring
agreements. These factors may have a negative impact on the
business and results of operations of FPL Group and FPL.
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FPL Group and FPL are subject to complex laws and regulations, and to
changes in laws or regulations, with respect to, among other things,
allowed rates of return, industry and rate structure, operation of
nuclear power facilities, construction and operation of generation
facilities, construction and operation of transmission and
distribution facilities, acquisition, disposal, depreciation and
amortization of assets and facilities, recovery of fuel and purchased
power costs, decommissioning costs, return on common equity and equity
ratio limits, transmission reliability and present or prospective
wholesale and retail competition. This substantial and complex
framework exposes FPL Group and FPL to increased compliance costs and
potentially significant monetary penalties for non-compliance. The
Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) has the authority to disallow
recovery by FPL of any and all costs that it considers excessive or
imprudently incurred. The regulatory process generally restricts FPL's
ability to grow earnings and does not provide any assurance as to
achievement of earnings levels.
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FPL Group and FPL also are subject to extensive federal, state and
local environmental statutes, rules and regulations, as well as the
effect of changes in or additions to applicable statutes, rules and
regulations that relate to, or in the future may relate to, for
example, air quality, water quality, climate change, greenhouse gas
emissions, carbon dioxide emissions, waste management, marine and
wildlife mortality, natural resources, health, safety and renewable
portfolio standards that could, among other things, restrict or limit
the output of certain facilities or the use of certain fuels required
for the production of electricity and/or require additional pollution
control equipment and otherwise increase costs. There are significant
capital, operating and other costs associated with compliance with
these environmental statutes, rules and regulations, and those costs
could be even more significant in the future.
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FPL Group and FPL operate in a changing market environment influenced
by various legislative and regulatory initiatives regarding
regulation, deregulation or restructuring of the energy industry,
including, for example, deregulation or restructuring of the
production and sale of electricity, as well as increased focus on
renewable and clean energy sources and reduction of carbon emissions.
FPL Group and its subsidiaries will need to adapt to these changes and
may face increasing costs and competitive pressure in doing so.
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FPL Group's and FPL's results of operations could be affected by FPL's
ability to negotiate or renegotiate franchise agreements with
municipalities and counties in Florida.
The operation and maintenance of power generation, transmission and
distribution facilities involve significant risks that could adversely
affect the results of operations and financial condition of FPL Group
and FPL.
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The operation and maintenance of power generation, transmission and
distribution facilities involve many risks, including, for example,
start up risks, breakdown or failure of equipment, transmission and
distribution lines or pipelines, the inability to properly manage or
mitigate known equipment defects throughout FPL Group's and FPL's
generation fleets and transmission and distribution systems, use of
new or unproven technology, the dependence on a specific fuel source,
failures in the supply or transportation of fuel, the impact of
unusual or adverse weather conditions (including natural disasters
such as hurricanes, floods and droughts), and performance below
expected or contracted levels of output or efficiency. This could
result in lost revenues and/or increased expenses, including, for
example, lost revenues due to prolonged outages and increased expenses
due to monetary penalties or fines, replacement equipment costs or an
obligation to purchase or generate replacement power at potentially
higher prices to meet contractual obligations. Insurance, warranties
or performance guarantees may not cover any or all of the lost
revenues or increased expenses. Breakdown or failure of an operating
facility of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC (NextEra Energy Resources)
may, for example, prevent the facility from performing under
applicable power sales agreements which, in certain situations, could
result in termination of the agreement or subject NextEra Energy
Resources to incurring a liability for liquidated damages.
The operation and maintenance of nuclear facilities involves inherent
risks, including environmental, health, regulatory, terrorism and
financial risks, that could result in fines or the closure of nuclear
units owned by FPL or NextEra Energy Resources, and which may present
potential exposures in excess of insurance coverage.
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FPL and NextEra Energy Resources own, or hold undivided interests in,
nuclear generation facilities in four states. These nuclear facilities
are subject to environmental, health and financial risks such as
on-site storage of spent nuclear fuel, the ability to dispose of spent
nuclear fuel, the ability to maintain adequate reserves for
decommissioning, potential liabilities arising out of the operation of
these facilities, and the threat of a possible terrorist attack.
Although FPL and NextEra Energy Resources maintain decommissioning
trusts and external insurance coverage to minimize the financial
exposure to these risks, it is possible that the cost of
decommissioning the facilities could exceed the amount available in
the decommissioning trusts, and that liability and property damages
could exceed the amount of insurance coverage.
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The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has broad authority to
impose licensing and safety-related requirements for the construction
and operation and maintenance of nuclear generation facilities. In the
event of non-compliance, the NRC has the authority to impose fines or
shut down a unit, or both, depending upon its assessment of the
severity of the situation, until compliance is achieved. NRC orders or
new regulations related to increased security measures and any future
safety requirements promulgated by the NRC could require FPL and
NextEra Energy Resources to incur substantial operating and capital
expenditures at their nuclear plants. In addition, if a serious
nuclear incident were to occur at an FPL or NextEra Energy Resources
plant, it could result in substantial costs. A major incident at a
nuclear facility anywhere in the world could cause the NRC to limit or
prohibit the operation or licensing of any domestic nuclear unit.
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In addition, potential terrorist threats and increased public scrutiny
of utilities could result in increased nuclear licensing or compliance
costs which are difficult or impossible to predict.
The construction of, and capital improvements to, power generation
and transmission facilities involve substantial risks. Should
construction or capital improvement efforts be unsuccessful or delayed,
the results of operations and financial condition of FPL Group and FPL
could be adversely affected.
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The ability of FPL Group and FPL to complete construction of, and
capital improvement projects for, their power generation and
transmission facilities on schedule and within budget are contingent
upon many variables that could delay completion, increase costs or
otherwise adversely affect operational and financial results,
including, for example, limitations related to transmission
interconnection issues, escalating costs for materials and labor and
environmental compliance, delays with respect to permits and other
approvals, and disputes involving third parties, and are subject to
substantial risks. Should any such efforts be unsuccessful or delayed,
FPL Group and FPL could be subject to additional costs, termination
payments under committed contracts, loss of tax credits and/or the
write-off of their investment in the project or improvement.
The use of derivative contracts by FPL Group and FPL in the normal
course of business could result in financial losses or the payment of
margin cash collateral that adversely impact the results of operations
or cash flows of FPL Group and FPL.
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FPL Group and FPL use derivative instruments, such as swaps, options,
futures and forwards, some of which are traded in the over-the-counter
markets or on exchanges, to manage their commodity and financial
market risks, and for FPL Group to engage in trading and marketing
activities. FPL Group could recognize financial losses as a result of
volatility in the market values of these derivative instruments, or if
a counterparty fails to perform or make payments under these
derivative instruments and could suffer a reduction in operating cash
flows as a result of the requirement to post margin cash collateral.
In the absence of actively quoted market prices and pricing
information from external sources, the valuation of these derivative
instruments involves management's judgment or use of estimates. As a
result, changes in the underlying assumptions or use of alternative
valuation methods could affect the reported fair value of these
derivative instruments. In addition, FPL's use of such instruments
could be subject to prudence challenges and, if found imprudent, cost
recovery could be disallowed by the FPSC.
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FPL Group provides full energy and capacity requirement services,
which include load-following services and various ancillary services,
primarily to distribution utilities to satisfy all or a portion of
such utilities’ power supply obligations to their customers. The
supply costs for these transactions may be affected by a number of
factors, such as weather conditions, fluctuating prices for energy and
ancillary services, and the ability of the distribution utilities’
customers to elect to receive service from competing suppliers, which
could negatively affect FPL Group’s results of operations from these
transactions.
FPL Group's competitive energy business is subject to risks, many of
which are beyond the control of FPL Group, including, but not limited
to, the efficient development and operation of generating assets, the
successful and timely completion of project restructuring activities,
the price and supply of fuel and equipment, transmission constraints,
competition from other generators, including those using new sources of
generation, excess generation capacity and demand for power, that may
reduce the revenues and adversely impact the results of operations and
financial condition of FPL Group.
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There are various risks associated with FPL Group's competitive energy
business. In addition to risks discussed elsewhere, risk factors
specifically affecting NextEra Energy Resources' success in
competitive wholesale markets include, for example, the ability to
efficiently develop and operate generating assets, the successful and
timely completion of project restructuring activities, maintenance of
the qualifying facility status of certain projects, the price and
supply of fuel (including transportation) and equipment, transmission
constraints, the ability to utilize production tax credits,
competition from other and new sources of generation, excess
generation capacity and shifting demand for power. There can be
significant volatility in market prices for fuel, electricity and
renewable and other energy commodities, and there are other financial,
counterparty and market risks that are beyond the control of NextEra
Energy Resources. NextEra Energy Resources' inability or failure to
effectively hedge its assets or positions against changes in commodity
prices, interest rates, counterparty credit risk or other risk
measures could significantly impair FPL Group's future financial
results. In keeping with industry trends, a portion of NextEra Energy
Resources' power generation facilities operate wholly or partially
without long-term power purchase agreements. As a result, power from
these facilities is sold on the spot market or on a short-term
contractual basis, which may increase the volatility of FPL Group's
financial results. In addition, NextEra Energy Resources' business
depends upon power transmission and natural gas transportation
facilities owned and operated by others; if transmission or
transportation is disrupted or capacity is inadequate or unavailable,
NextEra Energy Resources' ability to sell and deliver its wholesale
power or natural gas may be limited.
FPL Group's ability to successfully identify, complete and integrate
acquisitions is subject to significant risks, including, but not limited
to, the effect of increased competition for acquisitions resulting from
the consolidation of the power industry.
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FPL Group is likely to encounter significant competition for
acquisition opportunities that may become available as a result of the
consolidation of the power industry in general. In addition, FPL Group
may be unable to identify attractive acquisition opportunities at
favorable prices and to complete and integrate them successfully and
in a timely manner.
FPL Group and FPL participate in markets that are often subject to
uncertain economic conditions, which makes it difficult to estimate
growth, future income and expenditures.
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FPL Group and FPL participate in markets that are susceptible to
uncertain economic conditions, which complicate estimates of revenue
growth. Because components of budgeting and forecasting are dependent
upon estimates of revenue growth in the markets FPL Group and FPL
serve, the uncertainty makes estimates of future income and
expenditures more difficult. As a result, FPL Group and FPL may make
significant investments and expenditures but never realize the
anticipated benefits, which could adversely affect results of
operations. The future direction of the overall economy also may have
a significant effect on the overall performance and financial
condition of FPL Group and FPL.
Customer growth and customer usage in FPL's service area affect FPL
Group's and FPL's results of operations.
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FPL Group's and FPL's results of operations are affected by the growth
in customer accounts in FPL's service area and by customer usage.
Customer growth can be affected by population growth. Customer growth
and customer usage can be affected by economic factors in Florida and
elsewhere, including, for example, job and income growth, housing
starts and new home prices. Customer growth and customer usage
directly influence the demand for electricity and the need for
additional power generation and power delivery facilities at FPL.
Weather affects FPL Group's and FPL's results of operations, as can
the impact of severe weather. Weather conditions directly
influence the demand for electricity and natural gas, affect the price
of energy commodities, and can affect the production of electricity at
power generating facilities.
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FPL Group's and FPL's results of operations are affected by changes in
the weather. Weather conditions directly influence the demand for
electricity and natural gas, affect the price of energy commodities,
and can affect the production of electricity at power generating
facilities, including, but not limited to, wind, solar and
hydro-powered facilities. FPL Group's and FPL's results of operations
can be affected by the impact of severe weather which can be
destructive, causing outages and/or property damage, may affect fuel
supply, and could require additional costs to be incurred. At FPL,
recovery of these costs is subject to FPSC approval.
Adverse capital and credit market conditions may adversely affect FPL
Group's and FPL's ability to meet liquidity needs, access capital and
operate and grow their businesses, and increase the cost of capital. Disruptions,
uncertainty or volatility in the financial markets can also adversely
impact the results of operations and financial condition of FPL Group
and FPL, as well as exert downward pressure on the market price of FPL
Group's common stock.
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Having access to the credit and capital markets, at a reasonable cost,
is necessary for FPL Group and FPL to fund their operations, including
their capital requirements. Those markets have provided FPL Group and
FPL with the liquidity to operate and grow their businesses that is
not otherwise provided from operating cash flows. Disruptions,
uncertainty or volatility in those markets can increase FPL Group's
and FPL's cost of capital. If FPL Group and FPL are unable to access
the credit and capital markets on terms that are reasonable, they may
have to delay raising capital, issue shorter-term securities and/or
bear an unfavorable cost of capital, which, in turn, could adversely
impact their ability to grow their businesses, decrease earnings,
significantly reduce financial flexibility and/or limit FPL Group's
ability to sustain its current common stock dividend level.
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The market price and trading volume of FPL Group's common stock could
be subject to significant fluctuations due to, among other things,
general stock market conditions and changes in market sentiment
regarding FPL Group and its subsidiaries' operations, business, growth
prospects and financing strategies.
FPL Group’s, FPL Group Capital’s and FPL’s inability to maintain
their current credit ratings may adversely affect FPL Group’s and FPL’s
liquidity, limit the ability of FPL Group and FPL to grow their
businesses, and would likely increase interest costs.
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FPL Group and FPL rely on access to capital and credit markets as
significant sources of liquidity for capital requirements not
satisfied by operating cash flows. The inability of FPL Group, FPL
Group Capital and FPL to maintain their current credit ratings could
affect their ability to raise capital or obtain credit on favorable
terms, which, in turn, could impact FPL Group's and FPL's ability to
grow their businesses and would likely increase their interest costs.
FPL Group and FPL are subject to credit and performance risk from
third parties under supply and service contracts.
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FPL Group and FPL rely on contracts with vendors for the supply of
equipment, materials, fuel and other goods and services required for
the construction and operation of, and for capital improvements to,
their facilities, as well as for business operations. If vendors fail
to fulfill their contractual obligations, FPL Group and FPL may need
to make arrangements with other suppliers, which could result in
higher costs, untimely completion of power generation facilities and
other projects, and/or a disruption to their operations.
FPL Group and FPL are subject to costs and other potentially adverse
effects of legal and regulatory proceedings, as well as regulatory
compliance and changes in or additions to applicable tax laws, rates or
policies, rates of inflation, accounting standards, securities laws,
corporate governance requirements and labor and employment laws.
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FPL Group and FPL are subject to costs and other potentially adverse
effects of legal and regulatory proceedings, settlements,
investigations and claims, as well as regulatory compliance and the
effect of new, or changes in, tax laws, rates or policies, rates of
inflation, accounting standards, securities laws, corporate governance
requirements and labor and employment laws.
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FPL and NextEra Energy Resources, as owners and operators of bulk
power transmission systems and/or critical assets within various
regions throughout the United States, are subject to mandatory
reliability standards promulgated by the North American Electric
Reliability Corporation and enforced by the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission. These standards, which previously were being applied on a
voluntary basis, became mandatory in June 2007. Noncompliance with
these mandatory reliability standards could result in sanctions,
including substantial monetary penalties, which likely would not be
recoverable from customers.
Threats of terrorism and catastrophic events that could result from
terrorism, cyber attacks, or individuals and/or groups attempting to
disrupt FPL Group's and FPL's business may impact the operations of FPL
Group and FPL in unpredictable ways.
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FPL Group and FPL are subject to direct and indirect effects of
terrorist threats and activities, as well as cyber attacks and
disruptive activities of individuals and/or groups. Infrastructure
facilities and systems, including, for example, generation,
transmission and distribution facilities, physical assets and
information systems, in general, have been identified as potential
targets. The effects of these threats and activities include, but are
not limited to, the inability to generate, purchase or transmit power,
the delay in development and construction of new generating
facilities, the risk of a significant slowdown in growth or a decline
in the U.S. economy, delay in economic recovery in the United States,
and the increased cost and adequacy of security and insurance.
The ability of FPL Group and FPL to obtain insurance and the terms of
any available insurance coverage could be adversely affected by
international, national, state or local events and company-specific
events.
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FPL Group's and FPL's ability to obtain insurance, and the cost of and
coverage provided by such insurance, could be adversely affected by
international, national, state or local events as well as
company-specific events.
FPL Group and FPL are subject to employee workforce factors that
could adversely affect the businesses and financial condition of FPL
Group and FPL.
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FPL Group and FPL are subject to employee workforce factors,
including, for example, loss or retirement of key executives,
availability of qualified personnel, inflationary pressures on payroll
and benefits costs and collective bargaining agreements with union
employees and work stoppage that could adversely affect the businesses
and financial condition of FPL Group and FPL.
The risks described herein are not the only risks facing FPL Group and
FPL. Additional risks and uncertainties also may materially adversely
affect FPL Group's or FPL's business, financial condition and/or future
operating results.