Powerline fires and outages plaguing North Grove

Neighbors in the North Grove have been having electricity problems and FPL doesn't seem to care, they'are too busy on summer vacations or maybe planning their large Turkey Point expansion up South Dixie Highway with Governor Rick Scott's blessings.

FPL Power Delivery Customer Advocates are good at responding to emails, but they don't do anything other than lip service. Trees and other foliage are causing fire sparks and outtages in the Washington Street/Inagua area.

Since mid-June one particular street has experienced many frequent power outages. Neighbors claim they have had over 24 service interruptions. While FPL did go out for an engineering survey, nothing was done.

Now before the engineers came out sparks and crackling was coming from one of the outside lines. When the engineers were present, that particular line blew in front of them. But it's still occurring. FPL believes it may be foliage blowing against transformers. They need to do a "vegetation review of the lines." In the North Grove there is a lot of overgrowth which is never trimmed by FPL which causes the problems.

Other areas of the lines should be worked on and fireballs have been seen exploding in certain areas. A neighbor says, "My experience with filing complaints with FPL began nearly a year ago as I witnessed a fire on the power line caused by a sparked branch. The fire department arrived to assist and recommended that I begin pursuing FPL so that they would properly maintain the lines. Since my initial call I have witnessed at least four other instances in which smoke and/or flames have erupted from the lines as branches fall onto the active wires."

Neihbors had to coax FPL reps out to their properties a handful of times, but each instance concludes with their apology for the situation and explanation of their inability to take proactive measures until "something happens." Guess they are waiting for the neighborhood to burn down before any action is taken.

While this goes on, two top-tear execs from FPL went on vacation according to FPL's executive office and the Power Delivery Customer Advocate.

These lines should have all been buried years ago. Neighbors not only fear fire, but the electronics, tv's, etc, in their houses blow circuits when the power comes back on suddenly at any hour. Lots of long, sleepless nights, too, are caused by house alarms and car alarms that are triggered by the power bursts.