Moving faster after a disaster

Friday, January 13, 2006

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The legislation could mandate how power companies respond to hurricanes.

Some Florida Power and Light customers in South Florida went weeks without electricity during last year's hurricane season.

Now, one state senator wants to draft legislation that would mandate how power companies respond to hurricanes.

TECO Energy Control Center Director Paul Davis said the company is open to a public debate about power company response to hurricanes.

However, Davis said legislators shouldn't rush to change power company disaster response or the way power companies prepare for major disasters throughout the year.

"That is in essence what's at risk here is that we will get something rushed through that has a long-term impact that may create more problems than solutions," Davis said.

Some of the new requirements being talked about for power companies include more underground power lines being installed and the use of concrete power poles instead of wooden poles.

The problem is underground power lines are more susceptible to floods during hurricanes and are often harder to repair. Concrete power poles may do a better job of holding up during high winds, but cost more money to install.