Homestead Public Services (HPS) Energy received a “Restoring Communities Award” from the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) in recognition of its efforts to quickly and safely restore power to Florida communities, as well as parts of the U.S. Virgin Islands, following Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Recipients were honored for their work to restore power within their communities and for sending aid to their fellow municipal electric utilities. Utilities were awarded based on restoration times, customer communications efforts, and the levels of mutual aid provided.
“At HPS, we always say ‘you’re not just a customer, you’re a neighbor,’ and that spirit is what drove us to get all of our customers back online and to pay it forward by helping our sister utilities in the Virgin Islands,” said Director of HPS Energy, Barbara Quiñones. “We are thrilled to have received this award in recognition of all our employees’ efforts through a difficult time.”
HPS Energy received its award at the 18th Annual Florida Lineman Competition this past Saturday in Kissimmee.
“We’re so incredibly proud of our members who sent their crews to other communities in Florida to help out the areas most affected by Irma, as well as the linemen who left their families and homes during Thanksgiving and Christmas to help our neighbors in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director. “Our members are more than hometown heroes and these awards recognize their dedication to not just their own communities, but to communities everywhere.”
The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) represents the unified interests of 34 public power communities across the state, which provide electricity to more than 3 million of Florida’s residential and business consumers.
HPS Energy has been a true pioneer in providing energy services to Homestead since 1916—a time when large power companies did not realize the benefit of extending their services to the City. From humble beginnings as a power plant with one 30-kilowatt generator, to a one-time status as one of the largest municipal diesel-power generating plants in the United States, HPS Energy has proudly served its customers for over a century. Learn more at www.cityofhomestead.com/energy