energynow
Vol. 2 No. 7
A publication for and about employees of NextEra Energy, Inc., companies
Inside
This Issue
2
Leadership Perspective:
Our commitment to safely achieve
operational excellence
3
Construction workers build the then-new Cape Canaveral Power Plant in Brevard County, Fla., in this 1964 photo. (INSET): The new
Cape Canaveral Next Generation Clean Energy Center will be more efficient and will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Space Age plant to become part of
next era in power production
In 1969, the same year millions watched Astronaut Neil Armstrong walk on the moon, J.R. Roop lit the
first fire in the boiler of Unit 2 at Florida Power & Light Company’s Cape Canaveral power plant. And, he
was there through the early years when the plant helped power a growing Space Coast.
Now, the Space Age icon is being modernized into a next generation clean energy center that continues
FPL’s commitment to a next era of cleaner, more efficient power production.
“You could say we powered the Space Age,” said J.R., a maintenance leader and 40-year FPL employee
who remembers the days when signs around the facility read “Cape Critical” if NASA was within a launch
window.
“I always hoped I would be the one who put the lock on the gate,” J.R. said. Before beginning a temporary
assignment with the FPL power plant in Sanford, Fla., he was granted his wish when employees vacated the
Cape Canaveral plant in June and turned control over to a demolition contractor. The modernized plant,
located near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, is expected to be in commercial operation in 2013. J.R. plans
to return to the plant after the facility resumes operation.
“We’re pleased to be able to modernize the Cape Canaveral plant. It is a win for customers and the
communities it serves. It will save customers money, reduce emissions, and improve the plant’s visual
impact,” said FPL President and CEO Armando Olivera.
The modernized plant will be more efficient, using 33 percent less fuel per megawatt of power. The
reduction in carbon dioxide emissions after the modernization will be equal to removing nearly 46,000 cars
from the road each year over the life of the plant.
The modernization is expected to generate an additional $12 million in tax revenue for Brevard County,
where the power plant is located, in its first full year of operation alone. The office building at the plant
site will be certified as environmentally sustainable, with rooftop solar panels and an electric car recharging
station.
During construction, a temporary heating system to help manatees stay warm during the winter will be in
place. When the clean energy center comes online, the plant’s warm water outfall will continue to provide a
safe haven for the endangered species.
Lew Hay receives award
for innovation / NextEra Energy, Inc.
hosts EEI Annual Convention/Expo /
FPL receives highest honor for building
nation’s largest solar photovoltaic
power plant / NextEra Energy, Inc.
honored for promoting healthy lifestyles
4
Teacher grants help students learn
about renewable energy / Employees
build important relationships / New
Maine facility promotes teamwork /
Regular exercise helps Mike Smith
recover from serious injury
5
Engagement pulse surveys begin /
Care To Share® campaign helps Florida
customers / 5 simple steps that will
reduce your chances of injury /
Personal support helps reduce
Jerry Millican’s cholesterol
6
Meter Technology Center plays crucial
role to ensure smart meter accuracy /
Recognizing ZERO Today! Rewards /
Unique motorcycle to help at-risk kids
7
Threatened animal provides important
data / Lab employees help ensure
Nuclear Fleet safety and reliability /
Ensuring reliability during summer
lightning
8
The Big Picture: NextEra Energy, Inc.
visits NYSE to commemorate
name change
Learn more about FPL’s modernization plans at www.FPL.com/cape.
Vol. 2 No. 7 | July 2010
ENERGY now 1
Leadership Perspective: Mano Nazar
Our commitment to safely achieve operational excellence
taking this values-based approach, our
performance, relative to our industry peers, has
significantly improved; the number of days we
are online has increased; and all our plants are
now recognized by the nuclear industry as
either being “exemplary” or for demonstrating
“excellence.” Most importantly, this approach
has reduced the number of “fires” we fight.
That ultimately helps ensure that nuclear safety
always comes first.
Simply, our values are driving positive
behaviors, and these behaviors are driving
results.
Mano Nazar
Executive Vice President, Nuclear Division and
Chief Nuclear Officer
NextEra Energy, Inc.
Earlier this year, Jim Robo used this space to
write about what he called “the relentless
pursuit of tactical perfection.” At that time he
said, “We are a leader among our peers, and
one of the many things that sets us apart is our
focus on operational excellence. We must
remain committed to safely achieving
operational excellence daily. This includes
avoiding errors in all areas of our operations.”
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of
Mexico, the devastating accident at the coal
mine in West Virginia, and the explosion at a
natural gas plant in Connecticut are three
recent examples that should reinforce for all of
us the tremendous consequences of operational
errors. These tragic events remind us that the
impacts of an operational failure can be
catastrophic for our own team members and
the environment, as well as for the people and
economies of the communities we serve.
Given these stakes, each and every employee
has no choice other than to hold themselves to
the highest of standards for excellence.
These recent examples demonstrate why, in
our line of work, operational excellence cannot
be achieved by a series of business slogans but
must be driven by values and principles that
are closely and personally held by each and
every member of the organization. Given the
stakes in nuclear, we have adopted this
approach. The results have been outstanding.
For the past two years, the NextEra Energy,
Inc. Nuclear Fleet has been totally reshaping
the way we do business according to our
values-based Nuclear Excellence Model. By
2 ENERGY now
Regardless of whether we work in Nuclear,
Fossil, Distribution or Corporate, each of us
carries a heavy responsibility for the health and
safety of our coworkers, as well as the
communities we serve. With that in mind,
there are four key things each of us can do,
every day, to ensure we remain on the right
path to excellence:
1. Feel responsibility for ourselves and
others in the “pit of the stomach”
This year, we began our campaign to achieve
“breakthrough performance” across the
Nuclear Fleet. Unlike other industries, for us
the term “breakthrough” does not mean hitting
a set of operational or financial targets. Rather,
it is defined as when a majority of employees
are taking personal action to drive
improvement in the organization, regardless of
position or title. Often, these improvements
come from asking one simple question:
“What if?”
If we are truly to achieve tactical perfection
across our company, each and every employee
must personally consider the “worst-case”
scenario before taking action. For instance,
think of all the errors that could be avoided if
each of us simply stopped for one or two
seconds, asked, “What’s the worst thing that
could happen?” and took a different approach
to mitigate a risk that might not have been
immediately apparent.
2. Follow established processes with
formality and discipline
Even for tasks we consider small and
insignificant, we must force ourselves to follow
our processes and procedures with formality
and discipline. This is not always easy, but it
will almost always keep us out of trouble.
As we know from the unfortunate industry
examples mentioned above, failing to
follow our processes can have very serious
consequences. When it comes to our
operations, making an assumption or
wishing for hope and luck will never be
strategies for success. We must adhere to
established, time-tested processes with
predictable outcomes.
3. Treat complacency as the enemy
Given the stakes, we must guard against
complacency in our work at each and every
turn. When we start to see standards of
performance and work quality slipping, begin
to feel that we’ve lost the unrelenting passion
for continuous improvement, and have an
unwillingness to accept the status quo, it’s time
to stop, take time out, recharge our batteries
and refocus our efforts. Operational excellence
can only be achieved when individuals step up,
own problems, find solutions and ask, “What
more can I do to make it happen?”
4. Live in Prevention, Detection modes
to avoid Correction activities
In Nuclear, we have a simple model that can be
applied to every part of the business as well as
our personal lives. It is called “Prevention,
Detection, Correction,” or P-D-C. Essentially,
by spending 80 percent or more of our time
Preventing, anticipating or predicting
problems before they happen, or Detecting
issues at low levels through a questioning
attitude, we will limit the amount of time
and effort that we spend in Correcting
larger scale problems and issues. This has
proven to be a simple yet extremely powerful
concept for the Nuclear team, both
professionally and personally.
While we might sometimes take it for granted,
we work for a strong company that
accomplishes great things because we are
guided by the right values and principles. But,
continuing to improve our performance means
that each employee – regardless of position or
title – must pursue operational excellence
through a combination of passion, hard work,
doing the right things, and relentlessly asking
the “what if ” question to anticipate and
prevent problems.
I encourage any employee interested in
learning more about our Nuclear Excellence
Model, or our values-based approach, to visit
our internal employee website at eWeb/nuclear
for more detailed information. While you are
there, take a moment to review the profiles of
employees featured in our Faces of Excellence
Program – team members who are truly living
our values each and every day.
Sincerely,
Mano Nazar
Executive Vice President, Nuclear Division and
Chief Nuclear Officer
NextEra Energy, Inc.
Vol. 2 No. 7 | July 2010
Lew Hay receives award
for innovation
NextEra Energy, Inc. Chairman and CEO Lew Hay received the
“Lifetime Achievement” award from Ernst & Young in June at its
annual “Entrepreneur of the Year” awards ceremony in Orlando, Fla.
The honor is given to “the men and women who put everything on the
line in order to translate an idea into a viable sustainable enterprise.”
Lew was recognized for helping to transform NextEra Energy into one
of the largest, cleanest and most profitable electric power companies in
the nation.
Accepting the honor, Lew told the audience of distinguished guests
that NextEra Energy has achieved impressive growth because of its
people. “Our entrepreneurial approach at NextEra Energy has allowed
us to become the nation’s No. 1 producer of renewable energy and
to provide our Florida retail customers with high reliability and the
lowest bills of all 55 utilities in the state. I want to thank our 15,000
employees for making these achievements possible,” Lew said.
Lew’s award for entrepreneurship comes just three months after
NextEra Energy was chosen as one of Fortune magazine’s “10 most
innovative companies” in the world.
Southeastern Electric Exchange has awarded FPL its special Chairman’s Award for
outstanding performance in constructing DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center,
the largest solar photovoltaic power plant in the United States.
FPL receives highest honor for building
nation’s largest solar photovoltaic
power plant
Florida Power & Light Company has been recognized by the
Southeastern Electric Exchange for outstanding performance in
constructing the largest solar photovoltaic power plant in the United
States. The special Chairman’s Award was given by the Exchange for
the company’s 25-megawatt DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy
Center near Arcadia, Fla. The project was deemed “best of the best”
among all entrants in its 11 award categories.
“I’m extremely pleased that our development and construction teams
have been recognized for their dedication to making the nation’s largest
solar photovoltaic plant a reality,” said FPL Senior Director of Project
Development Buck Martinez. “This plant is bringing significant
economic and environmental benefits to Florida and making the
Sunshine State a national leader in solar power.”
Learn more about the DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center at
www.FPL.com/DeSoto.
NextEra Energy, Inc.’s hospitality booth, complete with solar-panel coffee tables,
provided an area for convention attendees to relax between sessions at this year’s
EEI Annual Convention/Expo in Hollywood, Fla.
NextEra Energy, Inc. honored for
promoting healthy lifestyles
NextEra Energy, Inc. hosts EEI Annual
Convention/Expo
NextEra Energy, Inc. was one of only 66 large employers, including
13 first-time winners, to receive the 2010 Best Employers for
Healthy Lifestyles award at the National Business Group’s Institute
on Innovation in Workforce Well-being Leadership Summit in
Washington, DC.
NextEra Energy had the opportunity to showcase its new name
recently when the company hosted nearly 1,000 utility executives
and their guests at this year’s Edison Electric Institute Annual
Convention/Expo.
Now in its sixth year, the Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles
awards acknowledge and reward those employers that have
responded to the urgent need to improve their workers’ health,
productivity and quality of life.
“The theme of this year’s EEI convention is ‘Transforming Our
Energy Future,’ and I think you’ll agree that energy issues are playing
a more prominent role in the national debate than at any time in the
past 30 years,” NextEra Energy Chairman and CEO Lew Hay told
the attendees at the opening general session. FPL President & CEO
Armando Olivera and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz also addressed
the attendees at the opening general session to welcome them to the
Sunshine State.
“It is an honor to again be recognized as a healthy workplace,” said
Andy Scibelli, manager of Employee Health and Well-being. “When
our employees are healthy, everyone wins.”
More than 60 employees served as volunteers and staffed a hospitality
booth over the three-day meeting, which featured forums on a variety
of critical issues, such as “Partnerships for Meeting the Customer in
the Home” with panelist Marlene Santos, FPL vice president of
Customer Service.
The company encourages employees and their families to support
and maintain healthy lifestyles and take advantage of the health
programs offered.
Vol. 2 No. 7 | July 2010
A recent survey found that participation in FPL-WELL programs
and services also continues to increase. “The survey, and this
award, proves that health and well-being have become part of our
corporate culture,” Andy said. “They demonstrate NextEra Energy’s
commitment to promoting a healthy workplace.”
Visit eWeb/FPL-WELL for more information.
ENERGY now 3
Employees build important relationships
Knowing that continued company growth and
project successes rest with their customers, NextEra
Energy Resources employees take the time and
make the effort to build and maintain these critical
relationships.
A student at New River Middle School
in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., demonstrates
his model home that operates
exclusively on alternative energy
resources, such as the sun and the
wind. He is one of the students learning
about renewable energy with the help
of educational grants from FPL.
Teacher
grants help
students
learn about
renewable
energy
Florida Power & Light
Company launched its teacher
grant program last October and
already has awarded more than
$40,000 to deserving teachers
throughout its service territory.
Teachers at two South Florida
schools stretched their $1,000
grants with classroom projects
that spanned several months of
curriculum.
“Renewable energy is our
future, and it’s important that
students learn comprehensive
applications of this technology,
as they will see it increasingly
as a part of their everyday
lives,” said Maureen Wilt, FPL
External Affairs education
program manager. “Teacher
grants make it possible for
students to learn from handson experience, which can
have more of an impact than
traditional textbook learning.”
Teachers at public and
private schools in FPL’s
service territory can visit
www.FPL.com/education to
apply for additional grants
through FPL’s solar education
program. The grants are
funded by the FPL Group
Foundation (soon to be
renamed the NextEra Energy
Foundation), which is funded
by shareholders.
4 ENERGY now
Mark Kornhaus, NextEra Energy Resources
Development director responsible for marketing
wind in the Central Region, said the needs of his
utility customers drive company decisions that
affect project development. “It’s all about listening
and learning,” he said. “Our customers have told us
they want wind facilities built closer to their loads
because of transmission constraints. This is critical
information that helps guide our business.”
Spending about half of his time on the road,
Mike Toal, senior director of Origination within
NextEra Energy Power Marketing, has built close
relationships with dozens of customers. “Customer
relations are the cornerstone of our business,” he
said. “Strong relationships give customers more
incentive to do business with us.”
Because positive relationships are crucial when
working on high-value transactions, Mike said
that having the trust of the company’s customers
is paramount. “They know us by our reputation,”
he said, “but more importantly, through the
relationships we have established and nurtured.”
New Maine facility promotes teamwork
The new Maine headquarters in Hallowell is getting
rave reviews from NextEra Energy Resources
employees, particularly control room operators, who
moved in this spring.
Operator Bo Sutherburg says the new consolidated
control room enables employees to now be part of a
team. “At the old River Control Center, we
operated alone. Now, when we have an issue, we
have a team environment – people with experience to
brainstorm with.”
Phil Langworthy, senior Power Generation Division
Operations specialist, who manages the control room
staff, agrees. Previously, each of the three major rivers
– Kennebec, Saco and Androscoggin – had its own
River Control Center located at one of the dams on
that river. An operator showed up for work, took over
the shift from the previous operator and could spend
the rest of the day completely alone. Now, with all
three mid-20th-century vintage RCCs combined into
one 21st-century, state-of-the-art, high-tech control
room, that culture is changing, and operators are
bonding as a team.
“Social interaction has increased exponentially,” Phil
said. “They have the resource of each other. They’re
cross training to be experts on all three rivers, not just
one. These are big changes, and I could not be more
proud of how the team has embraced the change.”
The 23,000-square-foot building also houses
Environmental, Engineering and other departments
that support the company’s 22 hydroelectric
facilities, eight storage reservoirs and two thermal
plants in Maine.
Health Champion
Regular exercise helps Mike Smith recover from serious injury
Mike Smith is a great example of
how keeping in shape can help
save your life. Mike, a mechanicelectrician at Point Beach Nuclear
Plant in Wisconsin, had been
exercising for years at the on-site
fitness center when, in February
2007, he was seriously injured in
a snowmobile crash. After being
examined by a neurosurgeon, tests
revealed Mike had fractured his back.
“Doctors told me I could have been
paralyzed,” he said.
Mike relied on strength training
and physical therapy during his
recovery instead of surgery. “With
the exception of hygiene and
physical therapy, I was bedridden
for 30 days,” he said. Mike’s physical
therapist expected to see him in a
wheelchair, but five days after the
accident, he walked in with the help
of a back brace.
“The neurologist and physical
therapist agreed that my many
years of exercise protected me
against more severe spinal damage,”
he said. “As a result, I reduced my
recovery time.” Mike’s doctors
explained that muscle tissue can
take more trauma than normal
tissue because it provides greater
protection to the skeleton.
Although Mike still experiences
minor residual pain from the
crash, he can do all the activities
he enjoyed prior to his injuries.
“I remain grateful not only to
walk again, but also to be able to
snowmobile and exercise like I
used to,” he said. “Keeping in good
shape for me was the difference
between walking and never walking
again. It helped save my life.”
Contact FPL-WELL at 561-6946242, or visit eWeb/FPL-WELL, for
information about company health
programs and resources.
Even after a serious back injury, Mike
Smith, a mechanic-electrician at Point
Beach Nuclear Plant, continues to
exercise at the on-site fitness center.
Doctors said that regular exercise
protected him from more serious injury
and helped him recover faster.
Vol. 2 No. 7 | July 2010
5 simple steps that will reduce your
chances of injury
Isn’t it worth your time to adopt a small practice that can make a big
difference to you and your family?
It’s a simple strategy: Identify and mitigate potential hazards before you
enter an area or begin your work. At the very least, an assessment can
prevent a minor injury. At best, it can prevent an injury that could last
a lifetime.
A new communications and training campaign for employees of NextEra
Energy, Inc., companies highlights five simple steps to help reduce
injuries in the field, office or at home:
According to Susan Halker, Human Resources manager and Employee Engagement
project lead, pulse surveys that measure employee engagement improvement and
monitor trends will be one of the leadership and trust initiatives that leaders will use to
help them stay focused on fostering team trust.
Employee Engagement
Engagement pulse surveys begin
Monthly pulse surveys of employees beginning in July will help leaders
understand if they are taking the right engagement actions.
The five-minute online surveys are just one of several corporate
initiatives aimed at improving leadership and trust.
“Employee engagement is a key strategy for the company, and these
pulse checks will help us keep our eye on the ball between annual
surveys,” said Susan Halker, Human Resources manager and Employee
Engagement project lead. “By obtaining feedback on a more frequent
basis, leadership will get a better idea of what is working and where
they can make adjustments, if needed.”
Every month until the next Employee Engagement Survey, a random
group of employees will receive an e-mail invitation to participate
in the pulse survey. To measure improvement and monitor trends,
the pulse surveys will ask fewer than 20 questions that are taken
from the main Employee Engagement Survey. The same standards of
confidentiality will apply, and results will be tabulated by a third-party
survey administrator.
The pulse surveys are one of the initiatives that NextEra Energy, Inc.
Chairman and CEO Lew Hay announced in the May issue of Energy
Now to support leaders in growing their leadership capabilities and
fostering team trust. Other leadership and trust initiatives include
Leadership Principles and Behaviors, and 360 assessments that are
based on those principles; the Employee Engagement Play Book for
Leaders; and the ongoing executive outreach program.
“The leadership and trust focus area has been foundational to
employee engagement since 2007,” Susan said. “We encourage
employees to help the company continue to improve by participating
in the pulse surveys.”
1.Identify the hazards by asking, “What could go wrong?”
2.What can I do to correct the hazards?
3.What is the safest way to perform the task?
4.Do I have the right safety gear, tools and equipment?
5.Am I qualified to perform the task?
The campaign also focuses on avoiding common attitudes that can lead
to injury, such as complacency, rushing to get the job done, and an “it
can’t happen to me” attitude.
Look for additional training and communications, coming soon.
Personal support helps reduce Jerry
Millican’s cholesterol
After 30 years of working in the field for Florida Power & Light
Company in Palm Coast, Fla., Jerry Millican took a job as a dispatcher.
Finding that he was eating calorie-dense foods and doing little exercise,
Jerry took part in a company-sponsored health screening and learned he
had high cholesterol.
A turning point for him came with a phone call from Rachel, a CIGNA
Integrated Personal Health Team advisor and the person Jerry calls his
inspiration for a healthier lifestyle. Through diet and exercise, Rachel has
helped him to improve his health, energy levels and self-esteem. “I have
found great value in my personal health coach,” Jerry said. “Rachel is
very knowledgeable about diet and nutrition, and she’s extremely positive
and upbeat. She helps me set health goals for the week and follows up
with me to make sure I deliver.”
Jerry hopes to continue to improve his health and has already reduced
his cholesterol by 40 points and lost 50 lbs.
To reach a CIGNA health advisor call 800-395-8712, or e-mail
[email protected]. Team members are available Monday through
Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT, and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT
Care To Share® campaign helps Florida customers
The economic downturn is hurting many Florida residents. However,
thanks to support from the FPL Care To Share® program, emergency
electric bill payment assistance is available to families in crisis.
Louis Gonzalez, Customer Service special consumer services
supervisor and FPL Care To Share’s program manager, said the
program – which has been helping disadvantaged customers for more
than 15 years – is funded by Florida Power & Light Company, its
employees and customers. “It’s gratifying to see the positive impact
of Care To Share in our community,” Louis said. “Since 1994, Care
to Share has raised more than $12.9 million and has helped almost
58,000 families in need.”
Vol. 2 No. 7 | July 2010
“I am also proud to report that FPL has pledged a $1 million
contribution to Care To Share for the fifth consecutive year,” he
said. “Every donated dollar is given directly to those in need through
partner agencies, such as The Salvation Army, and no tax-deductible
donations are used for fundraising or administrative costs.”
Employees can help make a difference by donating during the fourth
annual employee FPL Care To Share Campaign, July 26-30. Those
who donate during the last week of July could win an Apple iPad,
American Express Gift Cards, hotel stays and more.
Visit eWeb/CareToShare for more information.
ENERGY now 5
Recognizing ZERO Today! Rewards
One-year and two-year recognitions are awarded solely on
injury-free time regardless of the number of employees at
the location. Silver-level, gold-level and platinum-level recognition is
awarded based on the number of employees at the location as compared
to the number of months or years worked injury-free.
Locations that reached a ZERO Today! milestone during May
One-Year Award
Platinum-Level Award
Transmission and Substation
Integrated Supply Chain
Southeastern Transmission
Customer Service
Meter electrician Robert Hoskins is part of the Meter Technology Center team responsible
for developing the company’s industry-leading quality assurance program. The MTC
has markedly upgraded its testing procedures and equipment to ensure the accuracy of
advanced smart meter technology.
Meter Technology Center
plays crucial role to ensure
smart meter accuracy
Broward Connect & Disconnect
Daytona Meter Reading
Melbourne Meter Reading
Power Generation – Thermal & Hydro
Marcus Hook
Brevard Inventory Services – 15 years
Gold-Level Award
Fleet Services
Gulfstream Fleet Services – 13 years
Integrated Supply Chain
Treasure Coast Inventory Services –
10 years
Two-Year Award
Power Generation – Thermal & Hydro
Altamont
Florida Power & Light’s Meter Technology Center is rising to the
challenges presented by the company’s deployment of 4.5 million
smart meters, redefining itself from a standard testing and basic repair
facility to one where cutting-edge smart meter technology is verified
for accuracy, compliance, safety and other factors.
“Engineering and design innovations have ushered in a new era
in meter technology, requiring us to change the way we work,”
said Jose L. Brito Jr., FPL meter services manager. “The existing
residential meters we’ve tested over the years simply register and
display electricity usage. Smart meters are sophisticated devices with
advanced components that must be properly evaluated, including their
communication, connect/disconnect and home area network functions.
We’ve instituted a quality assurance system and procured state-of-theart testing equipment to meet the challenge.”
FPL requires its smart meter manufacturer, GE, to perform rigorous
accuracy testing on 100 percent of the devices before shipping them to
the utility. GE also conducts separate “full functionality” testing on a
sampling of meters from each production run.
Once the meters are received at FPL, a representative number of
devices from each shipment is delivered to its Meter Technology
Center in Miami. There, FPL technicians put the meters through a
comprehensive testing program – lasting an average of four to five
days – to ensure they meet or exceed FPL requirements. The devices
are tested for accuracy and performance under simulated operating
conditions. As a final safeguard, the MTC randomly selects meters
from the GE shipments and sends them to Austin International, an
independent third-party testing company, for further testing.
“The smart meter is evolving into a field network device, requiring
that we test it according to a new, more comprehensive set of industry
standards,” said Roberto Siegert, MTC senior engineer. “And to ensure
customer satisfaction and safety, we’re carefully testing smart meters
even beyond the demanding standards recommended by the American
National Standards Institute. After all, we’re customers, too!”
In an effort to continuously improve its quality assurance methodology,
the FPL Meter Testing Center is pursuing ISO 9001 certification – an
important component of the global quality management system.
6 ENERGY now
FPL IT LAN/WAN Infrastructure Specialist Joe Ciampi (center) and University of Florida
cheerleaders pose near a customized motorcycle that Joe built and donated to help firstgeneration college students and at-risk children.
Unique motorcycle to help at-risk kids
Teaching computer technology courses at universities in Iowa and
Louisiana, Florida Power & Light Company IT LAN/WAN Infrastructure
Specialist Joe Ciampi saw how quickly some students, especially those
who were the first members of their families to attend college, could fall
into financial trouble.
Having vowed to help smooth the way for first-generation college
students, Joe, a former college professor, jumped at the chance to be
a good neighbor by building a custom motorcycle for a raffle to fund
University of Florida scholarships for deserving students. Money from
the raffle also will help at-risk children through the Florida Sheriff ’s
Youth Ranches.
Even after donating parts and labor, Joe made the unique motorcycle
special by having University of Florida Football Coach Urban Meyer
and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow sign the gas tank. “This is the
only motorcycle ever autographed by both Coach Meyer and Tim Tebow,”
he said.
Thinking about how his donation will be used, Joe said that working
at FPL makes him want to help people. “It is a great way to have a
good feeling.”
For more information about the raffle, go to www.purple-chopper.com.
Vol. 2 No. 7 | July 2010
Threatened animal provides
important data
On a moonless night in May, an airboat glides across otherwise still,
dark water outside FPL’s Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant near
Florida City, Fla. Scouring the 5,900-acre man-made cooling canal
system are Florida Power & Light Company and university experts
who are doing the right thing.
Suddenly, a loud splash and cautious “thump” are heard as experts haul
a small American crocodile onto the boat, where the creature’s size,
weight and gender will be determined. “Capturing tells us so much
more than simply guessing from a distance,” said Mario Aldecoa, from
FPL’s crocodile program. “Our data shows that American crocodiles,
which are listed as threatened, are flourishing in our cooling canals.”
Since 1978, FPL has gathered data on American crocodiles at its
Turkey Point facility. For the previous two years, crocodile capture
events like this have helped reveal the long-term health, survivability
and population patterns for these creatures.
“It’s rewarding as a biologist to work for a company that has helped an
endangered species,” said Jodie Gless, FPL environmental specialist. “I
look forward to these capture events because we get to closely examine
the crocodiles and safely return them to the water so they can continue
to thrive.”
For a first-hand look at a crocodile capture, visit www.FPL.com/crocs.
Principal Nuclear Quality Control Specialist Larry Hiegel tests a breaker at the NextEra
Energy Centralized Procurement Engineering and Dedication laboratory. Employees of
the Riviera Beach, Fla., facility test, inspect and verify parts and components destined for
use in the company’s nuclear power plants.
Lab employees help ensure Nuclear Fleet
safety and reliability
For the employees of the Integrated Supply Chain’s Centralized
Procurement Engineering and Dedication (CPED) laboratory, a
normal day at work involves testing, inspecting and verifying parts
and components destined for use in one of the company’s five nuclear
power plants.
But for David Peterson, ISC manager of procurement engineering
and head of the CPED lab, the team of skilled technologists is saving
NextEra Energy, Inc., what could be millions of dollars while helping
the Nuclear Fleet deliver reliable electric service.
As a rule, components and parts – especially those that may be used
in high-pressure or high-temperature environments of a nuclear power
plant – are more expensive because of the extensive tests needed
to ensure the safety and efficiency of plant operations. “Certain
components must undergo a battery of tests and inspections before
they can be used,” David said. “At the CPED lab, we can purchase
commercial grade parts and perform specialized tests and inspections
in-house, which eliminates the need to purchase vendor-qualified
nuclear safety-related parts at inflated prices.”
The lab staff recently completed tests and inspections on steam traps
– components that separate water from steam in the system – and
qualified them for use in nuclear plant safety-related applications at
one of NextEra Energy’s nuclear facilities. “With the talent that we
have and the skills we have developed, the ISC is now able to perform
procurement engineering qualification tests and inspections in-house,”
said ISC Vice President Deb Caplan. “In 2010 our CPED lab has
already delivered $1.4 million in savings to the company.”
Ensuring reliability during summer lightning
Florida ranks second in lightning strikes only to the Democratic
Republic of the Congo in Central Africa. This means that on
any given day, lightning could strike a substation or knock out a
transformer, resulting in power outages for customers. In a typical
year, Florida Power & Light’s service territory gets hit by more than
300,000 lightning strikes.
To help better understand lightning’s potential impact on the electrical
infrastructure, FPL performs tests at the Reliability Assurance Center
in Riviera Beach, Fla. There, employees simulate lightning, gather
data and determine how to minimize potential equipment damage
and customer outages. For example, one measure the team takes to
Vol. 2 No. 7 | July 2010
minimize equipment damage and outages from lightning strikes is the
installation of surge arresters. These surge devices keep the voltage on
equipment from rising above insulation ratings, helping to avoid many
more outages.
Still, outages do occur. When they do, FPL employees respond
safely and quickly to investigate and restore power. In fact, its crews’
restoration time is the fastest among major utilities nationwide.
Overall, FPL’s service reliability ranks among the best in the country –
46 percent better than the national average.
Learn more about FPL restoration at
www.FPL.com/storm/restoration_priorities.shtml.
ENERGY now 7
The Big Picture
NextEra Energy, Inc. visits NYSE to
commemorate name change
The ticker symbol for NextEra Energy, Inc.’s common stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange
officially changed from “FPL” to “NEE” at the start of trading on June 23. In honor of the occasion,
NextEra Energy Chairman and CEO Lew Hay rang The Closing Bell™. Pictured below are (l-r) NextEra
Energy Executive Vice President of Finance and CFO Armando Pimentel, NextEra Energy Chairman
and CEO Lew Hay, Director of Investor Relations Rebecca Kujawa and Vice President of Marketing &
Communication Tim Fitzpatrick.
Photos and video of the event are available on eWeb.
8 ENERGY now
ENERGY NOW:
700 Universe Blvd., Juno Beach, FL 33408
Internal Communication Manager:
Jami Goertzen, 561-694-4034
Graphic Design: Eve Inch
Photographer: Doug Murray
Contributing Writers: Janice Brady, Jill Campbell,
Randy Clerihue, Lindsey Hunt, David McDermitt,
Stephanie Mitrione, Danielle Mousseau,
Sabrina Rios, Mary Wells
Published monthly for employees and quarterly for
retirees by Marketing & Communication.
Have a story idea? Call 561-694-4034, go to
eWeb/newsmaker, or write via interoffice mail to
Energy Now, MC-JB.
Read ENERGY NOW on the Employee Web.
Back issues are available by clicking on the
ENERGY NOW link.
External websites:
www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com,
www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPLFibernet.com
Address Change?
Employees should update their addresses using
My HR Direct in the corporate portal
(http://myportal). Retirees should call the FPL
Benefits Center at 800-208-4015 or write to:
FPL Benefits Center,
P.O. Box 9233, Boston, MA 02205.
Vol. 2 No. 7 | July 2010