2005-028 Supports Underground Utility Lines in FL LegislatureRESOLUTION 28-2005
A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF NORTH PALM
BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO
SUPPORT MUNICIPALITIES IN THEIR QUEST TO PLACE OVERHEAD UTILITY
LINES UNDERGROUND.
WHEREAS, Florida communities learned from last summer's intense hurricane season that
undergrounding is indeed a public safety issue and not just an aesthetic issue; and
WHEREAS, undergrounding is not a panacea, and each municipality must decide for itself if the
benefits outweigh the cost; and
WHEREAS, municipalities that are willing to invest millions of dollars in undergrounding
should be allowed to do so.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF NORTH PALM BEACH, FLORIDA:
Section 1. That the Village of North Palm Beach urges the Florida Legislature to:
• Support Bill S0526 to form an Electric Utility Task Force, which will determine, among
other items, the cost effectiveness of converting overhead electric lines to underground
when these facilities are replaced or relocated. As part of this study the Task Force shall
consider all of the costs and benefits to utilities, utility customers, and the general public
of placing some or all electric utility distribution and transmission systems and facilities
underground, including all of the potential reliability, safety and economic benefits of
such installations and conversions.
• Direct the Florida Public Service Commission to participate directly in such Electric
Utility Task Force and to exercise its full jurisdiction to require public utilities to convert
overhead facilities to underground facilities, on a reasonable schedule, especially where
existing overhead facilities are being retired, where such conversions are determined to
be in the public interest, taking into account all costs and benefits of such conversions to
the public as a whole. Where the PSC determines that the total costs exceed total
benefits, the PSC shall determine the fair contributions to be made by persons, local
governments, and other entities requesting conversions to underground service, such that
such contributions fairly reflect all benefits that underground service provides to the public.
• Require FPL and other utility companies to be more responsive to and cooperative with
municipalities that are pursuing undergrounding.
• Require FPL and other utility companies to quote a fair price, fully justified by reasonable
unit prices when and if a municipality desires to place overhead lines underground.
• Require FPL and other utility companies to cooperate with private contractors who may
be hired by the municipality to perform said work at a lesser cost than that quoted by the
utility company.
• Require, if that municipality later chooses to acquire the distribution system from the
utility company, the municipal investment in undergrounding be deducted from the net
book value of the system being purchase.
Section 2. The Village Clerk is hereby directed to provide a copy of this resolution to
Governor Jeb Bush, Senate President Tom Lee, House Speaker Allan Bense, the Palm Beach
County Legislative Delegation, and such other persons and entities as the Mayor may direct.
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 24th DAY OF MARCH, 2005.
ATTEST:
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VILLAGE C ERK