Your never going to believe this but once again there was a problem with utilities in this area of Florida, Broward County Area Code 33026. This time with Florida Power and Light who, dont get me wrong, is a very good utility company. Reliable in most cases but as we know you are only as good as those working for you are. So my issue is with a field service technician who has caused our home a avoidable 8 hour loss of power.
This is a recorded issue and reflects call # 1160 in the event FPL cares to validate this post.
Thursday July 25, 2013 @ 7:30pm all electric power goes out. I did not find this unusual since Florida has frequent outages due to heat and excessive electric use. Not all uncommon and FPL is quick to respond.
I call in to report the outage at 7:45pm making my way through prompts which are actually easy to navigate unlike AT&T's. In my mind the grid is out and I'm sure other have called in also. I am assure by the prompt the issue will be fixed by 10:45pm.
I'm sitting outside are realized my neighbours have service but I do not so I check my meter and notice smoke soot all around the casing. I call FPL back and speak to a real person, without a problem may I add, and inform him that there was a short in meter box. He forwards the info to the field tech who is not yet here.
Finally a tech shows up at around 10:15pm. This guy was not a happy camper and it was obvious he didn't want to be here or out at this time. He opened the meter box and did a power check and visual inspection. He determined that the problem was underground somewhere so he will call in a different technician who will run a temporary line so I have power. He stated he will have someone here in about a hour and his grumpy butt vacated the premises.
I have no electric and he, who is getting paid a good buck, seems to be pissed.
Well now is about 11:30pm so I call in to be told by the prompt that the problem will be fixed by 1:45 am Friday the 26th. OK so I sit in the dark outside and wait.
OK so now it about 2:00am and you guessed it I call in only this time the prompt tells me they have no idea when the electric will be fixed. More waiting with my trusty flash light. So far in spite of the heat and being exhausted I'm handling this well though my wife isn't. Shes somehow is grouchy with me as if I had something to do with it. What can I say I'm sure a few of you guys have taken the rap for things you didn't do.
Now its 3:00am.Out of the blue here comes the cavalry, two big beautiful FP&L trucks! Lights flashing and pulling up in front of my home. It was a beautiful sight. Two men come out as friendly as can be, courteous, polite determined to get me up and running without question. Unlike the first guy who came here.
These guys were ready to hook me up with a temporary hook up. The one tech tested the voltage lines and noticed something different then the first technician. He did a extensive visual check of the cables stating there is power!The problem WAS NOT UNDERGROUND AS THE FIRST TECHNICIAN DETERMINED. He found that the cables have shorted and was able to make the repair within minutes!!! No temporary lines needed, just a simple splice and reconnect!!!!
I went for over 8 hours without service due to the incompetency of the first technician. How could one tech find the problem so quick and the other not see it at all? My service should have been on since 10:15 had the first technician just looked, examined and checked the cables. It was that obvious.
I don't hold FP&L at fault though they should look into this matter and those working for them. The first technician caused alot of avoidable discomfort due to his inability to trouble shoot a simple problem and would have, or maybe already did, cost FP&L some overtime money.
To the two technicians who corrected this problem. I Thank You for your expertise and general respect you gave this homeowner. You have represented FP&L with dignity and professionalism FP&L should be proud of.
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