Power problems remain on Longboat Key

The island has experienced seven power outages and several power flickers, or surges, since July 7. The culprit? Everything from equipment failures to underground power line issues.

By Kurt Schultheis
| 6:00 a.m. August 26, 2015

Longboat Key has experienced at least seven confirmed Florida Power & Light Co. outages and several other power flickering outages that arenâ€™t documented by FPL.

Longboat Key
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Longboat Key has a power problem — and now, Florida Power & Light Co. officials have confirmed it.

Since approximately 3,500 Longboaters lost power the night of July 7 — many for up to 10 hours — the Key has experienced at least six other confirmed outages and several power flickering outages that aren’t documented by FPL.

Last week, FPL Southwest Florida Area Manager Rae Dowling confirmed the statistics and that issues with the main feeder lines that run under Sarasota Bay are the cause of some outages.

“Outages have been related to two main feeder cables supplying Longboat Key,” Assistant Town Manager Anne Ross wrote in an Aug. 21 email to the Longboat Key Town Commission.

The feeders originate at various points within the city of Sarasota and run underground through Sarasota Bay.

FPL: Outages aren’t normal

Seven outages in seven weeks: Does that reflect what a $25.5 million undergrounding project could buy the town?

That was what town officials wanted to know during an Aug. 19 meeting with six FPL officials.

“Knowing that town residents will soon be considering undergrounding overhead electric lines, we asked FPL, if this current (power problem) situation is indicative of typical underground systems reliability,” Ross said.

But FPL staff said that the recent number of outages is not typical, even for an older electrical system, according to Ross, and the faulty equipment is to blame.

“FPL representatives explained our recent experience is unusual and not reflective of their normal system reliability,” Ross said. “The FPL representatives stated that the number of outages and issues in a short period of time are unusual for their system. They apologize and will continue to be proactive to minimize future interruptions.”

Other power outages were the results of lightning strikes and equipment failures, either on the Key or the mainland.

The town and the Longboat Observer requested a breakdown of outage causes from FPL. The information was not available at press time.

Ross said that six FPL officials confirmed during an Aug. 19 meeting that the most problematic feeder crossing New Pass from City Island has been in design and is slated for an upgrade.

FPL is in the process of obtaining final permitting and easements and expects to replace the feeder during the first quarter of 2016.

Ross said the town is now in close contact with FPL and will keep commissioners informed of future power problems and upgrades for underwater lines.

Some residents believe Longboaters should consider power outages before they decide whether to approve a $25.5 million Gulf of Mexico Drive undergrounding project in November.

District 5 Commissioner and Lands End resident Pat Zunz has complained for years about frequent power outages on the north end of the Key.

“Now the southern end of the Key is finding out how frustrating frequent power outages are,” Zunz said. “I’m concerned about the undergrounding question. We may be getting into something too fast without having all of our questions answered.”

The town has heard from residents about the surge of outages.

“We’ve been getting a lot of calls from residents about the power outages and are trying to address it,” Ross said. “People aren’t happy about it.”