Winter Park City Talk

Happy 10th anniversary, Electric Utility!

On June 1, 2005, the city “flipped the switch” to official ownership of its electric utility. Monday, June 1, 2015, marks the 10-year anniversary of this monumental day. After serving as the project manager for the transition that actually began in 2001, this milestone is extremely rewarding for me. From the months of litigation, to preparing a 2003 referendum that resulted in 69 percent of voters approving the acquisition, to the actual 2005 acquisition, transition, and integration to Winter Park ownership, we have much to celebrate.

This was a long, electrifying road, and looking back at the past 10 years, we have huge successes to highlight:

• Lower electric rates as compared to the previous and many other municipally-owned utilities

• Decreased costs for operation and maintenance

• Improved reliability

• Improved customer service

• Improved aesthetics

• Increased property values

• Approximately 60 percent of overhead lines are currently underground

• Creation of an online GIS mapping system, which allows homeowners to see when their lines are scheduled to be placed underground. Check for your home at gispublic.cityofwinterpark.org/ugstatus.

Because of the accomplishments we have achieved, even many of those who were adamantly opposed to the acquisition have now become strong supporters. Being a customer of a municipally-owned utility allows local control, faster power restoration, drastic reduction in the number of momentary blinks and outages, and exemplary customer service. Because our residents are the stakeholders, we answer directly to them by setting our rates based upon our unique needs, and reinvesting profits back into the long-range plans of the community.

In the next 10 years, the city is planning to…

• Underground the remaining 79 miles of overhead lines. Undergrounding will significantly enhance reliability and solve 100 percent of aesthetic challenges as it relates to wires in our tree canopy.

• Work with homeowners to underground their individual service lines from the pole to their home. Currently, 9,000 customers’ service lines are underground. Over the next 10 years, focus will be on undergrounding the remaining 5,000 customers (creating an overhead line-free community).

• Continue storm-hardening efforts, protecting our system from inclement weather.

Our 10th anniversary will be celebrated during the Monday, June 8, City Commission meeting. “Cake at the Break” will be held at approximately 5 p.m. in the Chapman Room at City Hall on the second floor. Please make plans to get all charged up and join us as we celebrate our power-full successes!

Plan ahead for Monday, June 8, meetings:

• 2 p.m.: Golf Course Strategic Plan Task Force and City Commission Joint Work Session

• 3 p.m.: Community Redevelopment Agency meeting

• 3:30 p.m.: City Commission meeting

Help keep our lakes clean

Preventing pollution is much more cost-effective than cleaning up lakes or stormwater runoff after the fact. To help keep our lakes clean, the city has constructed stormwater treatment facilities, which unfortunately are not enough to keep all pollutants out of them. In order to minimize the amount of pollutants entering our lakes, we need to minimize what enters the stormwater system and the help of our residents is key to this process.

The ultimate goal is for only rain to go down the drain. Grass clippings, dirt, fertilizer, pesticides and other chemicals such as cleaners, solvents or oil all add to the pollutant load to area lakes. If you see or suspect that materials other than stormwater are being dumped or allowed to enter the stormwater drains, please call the Stormwater Division at 407-599-3233 or Lakes Division at 407-599-3599.

For more information about protecting our waterways, please visit the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s watershed protection page at ProtectingOurWater.org.

Free irrigation audit and consultations

City residents are able to receive free irrigation system audit and controller adjustment consultations on Mondays and Tuesdays between 7:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. To schedule an appointment, please call 407-599-3597.

Thunderstorm safety precautions

Along with hurricanes come severe thunderstorms. Here are some additional safety tips to keep in mind during inclement weather:

• Never touch downed power lines. Lines may be live and deadly. Dial 911 immediately to ensure that the line is turned off so repairs can be made.

• Fallen trees/large limbs. If you see a large tree or limb that has fallen, please call the Urban Forestry Management Division at 407-599-3325.

• Stay in your car if you are traveling. Fully enclosed, metal-hard topped vehicles offer excellent protection because the metal bodies conduct electricity away from the occupants. Use extreme caution when driving.

• Occasionally test your brakes by pumping them. If you drive into a thunderstorm, slow down and use extra caution. If possible, pull off the road into a safe area.

• Protect your appliances. Sign up for the city’s Surge Protection Program and block powerful lightning strikes from entering your home through electrical, cable or phone lines – effectively saving your belongings from possible damage or destruction. To enroll, call 1-866-548-3419.

• Don’t use hard-wired (land line) telephones or electronic equipment. Stay away from stoves, radios, corded telephones and computers. Cell phones and cordless phones are safe to use.

• Don’t take a shower or a bath. Water and copper tubing are excellent conductors of electricity.

• Stay indoors. Don’t venture outside unless absolutely necessary. According to the National Weather Service, summer is the peak season for lightning. If you hear thunder, you are likely within striking distance of the storm so get indoors into a safe shelter or vehicle quickly.

• Report power outages to 1-877-811-8700 or via the button on our website home page. When reporting an outage, if you receive a busy signal, it most likely means Winter Park electric is aware of the outage. Most outages affect numerous customers and the busy signal means we are receiving calls about your outage and are working to restore power as quickly as possible.

For more information regarding the city of Winter Park, please visit the city’s official website at cityofwinterpark.org. Like, follow and watch us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vimeo, and YouTube.