Easements & Electrical Facilities.

As a result of recent active hurricane seasons, the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) has recognized how Florida residents have been adversely impacted from storm damaged electrical facilities. While Keys Energy Services' (KEYS) customers have been extremely fortunate with fast post-storm restorations, the FPSC developed and passed orders requiring utilities to test the integrity of their electrical infrastructures and to “Storm Harden” their systems for new and replacement facilities.

In addition to hardening the system, KEYS and other local utilities have been dealing with the issue of facilities in public right-of-ways (ROWs) and easements where customer structures, pools, fences, and vegetation have made these facilities inaccessible for utilities to perform safe and efficient operations.

In the summer of 2007, the City of Key West formed a committee with local utilities including Bell South, Comcast, and KEYS, to research the impacts of such build-up in ROWs and easements to each agency. The committee determined that approximately 615 utility poles are currently in public ROWs or easements, of which 425 are inaccessible to local utilities.

In order for KEYS to conform to FPSC orders, the Utility Board passed a resolution to seek solutions from the City and provide direction on the placement of upgraded electrical facilities in inaccessible locations.

Depending on the direction KEYS is given from the City, two solutions are possible:

1. The City will reclaim all built-up ROWs and easements in order to allow local utilities access to perform safe and efficient operations.
2. The City will not reclaim ROWs and easements. As a result, utility poles that are inaccessible to local utilities will be moved to accessible locations at the front of residential and commercial locations.
   • KEYS will cover all costs related to the removal and relocation of utility poles out of ROWs and easements, however, some affected KEYS' customers will incur costs associated with the relocation of their meter centers. CLICK HERE to see a diagram explaining the various facets of a meter center and who is responsible for each.

While a course of action has yet to be finalized, KEYS' staff has been making the necessary preparations in the event that its customers have to relocate their meter centers to accommodate the relocation of utility poles.

In an effort to provide customers with as much information as possible, utilize the links below to learn more about the easement accessibility issue and how you may be affected.