1. What is utility undergrounding?
Utility undergrounding includes burying existing overhead utilities belonging to major providers, including AT&T, Comcast and FPL. Upon completion, the area will be fully restored including new street lighting and resurfaced roadways.
2. How will I benefit from undergrounding overhead lines?
Undergrounding projects are designed with “looping,” which means each home will have two paths of service, increasing the system's reliability if one transformer in the area is affected. New lines will also be placed in conduit that will offer increased environmental protections. According to FPL, undergrounding increases their system’s day-to-day reliability by 50% and by 85% during storms.
3. Will I have to provide an easement?
Generally, undergrounding projects are designed using existing public right-of-way for installation of any new permanent FPL transformer boxes or other utility apparatus. The City will conduct outreach to impacted homeowners for those areas requiring new easements. FPL and other utilities do not require new easements to complete the service connections.
4. How are FPL transformer locations selected?
FPL design plans provide the required locations for FPL infrastructure.
5. What stormwater resiliency and the impacts of king tides?
The new lines about will be buried and protected from the elements in continuous conduit. If the local elevation is below 3 feet NAVD (North American Vertical Datum), FPL transformer boxes will be elevated to protect against king tide events.
6. Will FPL underground their lines for free?
FPL has a statewide program that pursues strategic undergrounding for their lines only (not for cable TV, telephone or other existing vendors), so overhead utility lines remain after their work is complete. FPL will only underground areas where all impacted parcels agree to an easement on private property for new lines and FPL transformer boxes.
7. If utility undergrounding is the project goal, why are other costs included (street lighting, roadway resurfacing, etc.)?
All costs included within the special assessment are “as-necessary” for project completion, including final restoration. Currently, local street lighting is on existing FPL poles which will be removed and replaced (one for one) as part of the project to maintain street lighting. While trenchless installation limits the amount of digging, excavation will be required in some areas to push and pull the main lines. Roadway resurfacing is required for final restoration of the impacted roadways.
8. Why am I being asked to vote on something that I did not ask for?
In 2010, the City established a process for neighborhoods to request utility undergrounding. Essentially, the City would coordinate with area utilities and develop a project. All associated costs will be paid by the benefitting neighborhood. In 2012, the City updated the Code to streamline the process. Your property may be within a neighborhood that formally requested the initiation of a utility undergrounding project and may have already paid for the design. Once 90% design plans are complete, a balloted vote is required to confirm neighborhood consensus on next steps.
9. What happens after balloting?
Per City Ordinance Section 25-129, if 70% of those responding to the ballot vote in favor of the project, then a public hearing will be scheduled with the City Commission to consider establishment of a special assessment boundary.
10. How will I pay for this undergrounding project?
Benefitting homeowners are responsible for project-related costs, including financing, and will pay through a line item on their property tax bill for a period of 30 years.
11. I only want to underground my local street. Will the City manage my project?
According to City Ordinance Section 25-129, the City only administers undergrounding in neighborhood association-sponsored areas. The special assessment is applied to the entire neighborhood.
You may wish to contact FPL to determine FPL’s process for undergrounding residential areas that are not within the boundaries of a neighborhood association. Further coordination with other overhead utilities will be required. A project of this scope may require the services of a knowledgeable consultant who can guide you through the process or pursue the path recommended by FPL.
