Kissimmee Utility Authority today received a national commendation from the American Public Power Association for its support of electric power restoration efforts in Florida and Puerto Rico in 2017.
Following Hurricane Irma in September, KUA restored power to its customers in Kissimmee within 75 hours of the storm before sending lineworkers and power plant technicians to Orlando and Key West to assist with restoration efforts. From there, KUA linemen traveled to neighboring Polk County, completing 19 consecutive days of power restoration work.
In October, the utility sent a team of lineworkers and vehicles to Puerto Rico where they spent 36 days making critical repairs to the island’s electrical grid following Hurricane Maria. The hurricane completely destroyed the island’s power grid, leaving all 3.4 million residents without electricity.
Below are the dates and locations of KUA’s mutual aid work:
Hurricane Irma
Orlando Utilities Commission – September 14-September 16, 2017
Keys Energy Services – September 17-October 2, 2017
Lakeland Electric – September 17-September 20, 2017Hurricane Maria
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority – October 17-November 21, 2017
“Mutual aid is at the heart of what public power does, and the public power community thanks KUA for stepping up to help neighbors in need—whether they are next door or thousands of miles away,” said APPA president and CEO Sue Kelly.
KUA participates in APPA’s Mutual Aid Network, which coordinates with utilities and authorities nationwide during widespread power outages.
Founded in 1901, KUA is Florida’s sixth largest community-owned utility powering 74,000 customers in Osceola County, Fla. For more information, visit http://kua.com.