ML17354B106
| ML17354B106 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Saint Lucie, Turkey Point  |
| Issue date: | 02/26/1998 |
| From: | Saporito T SAPORITO, T.J. |
| To: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17354B105 | List: |
| References | |
| 2.206, DD-98-10, NUDOCS 9809250353 | |
| Download: ML17354B106 (14) | |
Text
82/26/98 lli42pm From:Thomas J.
Saporito> Jr.
f'aae UUl f tel~
This FAX sent with evaluation version of'axHai 1 Network f'r windows National Litigation Consultants
,~ggcfggr if'/tgsIIcb!p>>cr fpccla/Jatos 6230 W. todiaatown Road, Stc. 7-3SS, Juster< F)orida 3345)t Yo)cc: (561) 672-1667 1'acsim))c: (S61) 7444615 latcrnct Ema)i aaporitoIi)maHcxcitc.corn RFcbruarv 26, 1998 Hon. Sh'ley Jackson, Chairman
).. S. Nuclear Regulat.cry Commission tilhite Flint Building Nashington, D.C.
20555 R"-:
~ET:T3ON UHD~R 0 C. -:.R. 2.206 RZQV-ST FCR AGENCY ACTION
Dear Chai"mari Jackson:
'Ln accordan. e with J.S.
Nuclea Regulatory Commission
("NBC") regulationsl found at. 7itle 10 cf the "ode of. Federal Regulations, t.he undersigned and National Litigaticn Consult.ant "NLC"),
(h einafter "Petiti ners")
submit this request for a-tion. by t~e NRC with respect to.-'ts licensee, Florida Power 6
ight Company l"FPL") opera"ors of the St.
Lucie nuclear station Units 1
and 2 and the Turkey point nuclear station units 3 and 4
as fully described below:
Sysmific Raciest.
1.
t!iat the NR" take enforcement action to
- modify, suspend, or revoke CPL' operating licenses
. or al) four nuclear reactor until such time as t:he
.lice.,see can sufi')..".ient3.y demonstrate to the NRC and the pub) ic that employees at the licetisee's nuc'ear fac'lities are.
exposed to a
work environment wlilch encourageo employees to =rec).y raise afety concerns
~~c),l,y tc the HRC wit;hout.'ea of reprisal by tne licensee; 2.
that the NRC take p~~" ~i e.nf orcement action in accordance wit.'~
10 C.F.B.
- 2. 202 and/or in accordance
'0
-This provision is contained in Subpart B,
Sec).ic".n 2.206 o+ the NRr,'.s regula Lions.
9809250353 9809i4 PDR ADOCK 05000250 9
PDR isog6>>>'
82/26/98 llr43pm From:Thorn'as J. Saporito, Jr.
Page 882 of'13 wi th other NPX regulatiorrs due to discriminatory practices
. of the
'ensee in viola< ion of NRC regu'lations at 10 C.R.F.
50.7 and/or in accordance with other NRC requ?a'.x.,
and that the errfcrcement action be escalat d
etroacr: i.ve
.Iom the initia'ccurrcn "c ot
'the violation by the licer.see; that he
- NRC, through its Agency's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board
{"ASLB") conduct a public hearinq arrd permit Petitioners leave tc irtervene at said hear'ng to per=cot an evidentiary record in consideration of
.whether
= t.hc" licerrsee.has.,violated NHC requirements arrd/or regulations with respe<:L to the cperati iq l.censes thc Agency ssued tc the li"..ensee
- .o allow oper~ticn of its nt cleat facilitics; 4 ~
th-t the NRC "eouire the licensee to p"st a writte-..
ncti ce along s'de each NRC a'orm-3 currently post ec, at; the
'ic nsee's nuclear faci'ities, which alerts employees tha-t.hey can d~~~ contact the NPC about sa fety concerr'.s without gzU of repri sai f=cm thc liccn ee; that the KRC requite the licensee to provide a copy tne aforementioned post:cd corm>nicat'or s to all employees at tne 1='ccn ee' ruciea=
facilities and to take necessary measures to insure that all employees are made aware of:hose co~rmurrications through the licensee's General
~royee Training Program; 6.
thar. the NRC requ're the l'censee to provide the Agency with written document:s authu'ed by Hr.
James Broadhead, Gr other officer o the licensee u>>der aifirr~atlen that t:he Agency's req"ir rrients as described above
.in.i.tems and 5 have been fu ly corrplied n'ith; 0
that the NRC 'nitiate actions to car>se ar: investigation in"c the circumst.anccs surrounding recent adverse employment
~c ions taken aqa,inst licen ee emp vyee Mr.
John Giles and or;her iicer.see employees at the St.
Lucio Nuclear StaLicn as a direct oz indirect. result ot.:
tho.. errrployees'rr gagcmer.t in protect:cd ac" i.vir..i es as define" unde 10 C.F.R..'0.7 and Iit.lc 10 of t.he Code of Federal Hegulatinns and urrde 42 U.B.C.
5051; and -o determine if a "hostile wo"k environment" exists at th S
I ucie Kuclear Sta 'on; and to determire ii "chi li.nq effect
?rds been sufficiently instled at the li'nsee'uclea stat ion to dissuade employee'
U2/26/88 ll'44pm From:Thomas J. Saporitoi Jr.
Page 883 of 813' om raising sa;.et y con"erns; ar,d to determine if the l~ccnsee'rplcyeo Con"erns Program is e fI'ective ly utilized by the employees and whetner the employees are comfortable or even willing to utilize the program; and t o determine whe" her 1 icer see manaq"mont needs further t"a:n'ng in addressir:g employee concerns and training in de:elopi'rg irtezperscnai skills to encourage employees to utilize he concerns program; and that.
=he HRC initiate a tiors ro formulate an Augmented Maintenance lrsp"ction Team ("~IT") to de"ermine why the
= li=ens e'er formance at the St:.
Lucie Nuclear Station has conti.nuall y deter ic'r'ated aver the" l'ast
'.cveral years; to determ'ne if 1'censee ayoffs "restructuring" has resulted in a core wo k force. t:hat i s nor. properly t=ained or skilled to properly maintain the balance of rhea plant; to det.ermine whether tne licensee has an adequate number o= employees to safehy opereLe and maintair. the St. Lucie Nuclear Station; and determine whe'iver FPL management has acted impuden tly ir purchasing n"..her power s I ations in the Eastern
!)nitcd States for which said actions have directly or indirectly resulted
=n management becoming overwhelmed by a~rained resources overa l.
The tlRC has a Congressional mandate to investigat 1'ensees general employment practices to determine whet.".er thos" practices are having a " hilling ezzect" or, would-be whistleblowers.
That mandate
.i. quite disLinct irom that o
the DG I
"The iNRC'
'nvestigatory powers and those cf
'.he i!:OLj under.
(5BH."i J ncithcr serve the same purpose nor are i.nvo'<ed in t.he same manner.
Th y
- are, rathe',
ccmplementary, not duplicative
!Jndex (565'!
he
[DOLj apparently lacks two remecial powers--uhicn
-he
[NRCj possesses--...
one r'ht to ta'<e importan.
action against:
the employer, and the
. authority zo do so immodi at.e ly....
The (DOLj may c>rcjer only reinstat ment an" back pay--not ccrrection of the dangerous practices themselves."
Ur on Z1oc"ric, N.R.C.
at 138; cf..
42 U.S.".
5851(j) (2) (a DOT finding tha-a rota).iaticn claim has no me"'
"sha I 1 not be considered by the (H!RC] ir. its detc"mination of whether a substant.ial sa.ety i'arard exits" ).
82/26/98 ll:46pm From:thomas J.
Sapoi iso, Page BOW ot'l3 gait,tl
~w
>ppe Lc.X S Ps a d'ect resii' of the
?tR'"'
='.mpoterce a!d Ca lure to tlill&iy irtplel ien t. l s man
- a. e ir. pr tecting iicensee errp 1oyees uildor C. F. R,
- 50. i a..d vi?i r +edera~
egulations(
3 ch '
J ~nq
!:feet" was irstilled at
""PL' n..'clea=
fac" 1'".ies and has
'ontirued to dissuade employees from =aisinc safety "once !is.
'~.(rcover, FPI: continues tc d'...crimira-.e aaairs-its employees in viola'.ion vZ hRC regu.'ia-.'ons a
1C C.F.R.. 50.'i.
Mr.
'ohn Gi? t.s(
a Eormer l'.ccnsee empioyce at
.hc St.
Lucio Huclcar St tior.
has Xl' a complairt as d'd o.-.e or.no"e.of.?.is. co(v.:rt'ers.
a !eg'ng retal iation by FP'or engacing ir.
prot:ected'c" ivit es.
Yorecv ",
YPL nas ergaged a
spat e.of 'un'ive =.
pe..s'.on at,.
-.hi. St, Lt 'ie ?J clear Stat. on against numerous en'p';ees for what ihe l censee a
caes to be procedure viol.a"'ors.
Nr.
Ric:liard
. u",ris, loca p"es=dert, of, t:he
.";.ternat "nal Brotherhood of Hie"trica3 i c.'<ers;" h" i oporated t.".at
".".e disci pli:ie(.
wor'(crs had
-.,o ?;iszory "sobed'ence and s"tee had rever t'ai:er.
a s'<ck day before beino sent home
'as" v(:.ek.
Pr""vi"usly, the punishment "or fai ling.
c
=ol!cw p: ant procedures bias been wr tten le"ter of reprirrar.d o" a day(s s"spension.
?ii. ~ur=.s was quot.ed by a
loca3 newspape" sta".'ng
- that, "The more (plant management) uses tactics of fear and intimidation, tho more wo're going to stick together,"
Trip 1'cersee voived;o cc it inue the
! r.. 'ased ciscip'nc policy;
- however,
-.he3
'i censee made rio mar!t iot~ of a fai'e" train nc p 'ram ut ti.e stat'cn or a desire of the licensee
.o i~r.reese arid enhari e +raining or emp10yees in the pr<<per i.se of pi an. rrocedures.
- Thus, one
.att
.'-;.fer that.
the licensee'"al marten' ons are to s'ence t
1 e vcr (;. orce fro i enQag.'g 1n protected act:; ities at. the s" at\\ ori due to the fact that tho p~ant empl.",ye=s had mere
<.;~mplaln-.s substar.t iat".d y
f<<dern'riv'tig;.ters las'.
year tha!i any of t':ie nation' 6=..
n: lear p~ants.
On t)ay 1~,
1996, rre NRC issued a policy statement "to et
'-rth '
exo c ation that licensees and orht emp:eyer subject.
t kC author'y wi.l estab ish and maintain safety-corscJQ s
cnvironmen"..s ir.
@hi::h employees eel fro..
to raise safety
- oncerns, bot..".
!.'o t!.eir mara"ement.
an" to th=
NRC, without fear E
61 Fed.
Beg.
24336 (Hay 4,: 996).
ho policy stat crrent, inc "r a,i 'a,
- stresses, a:sting ot.:e"
- things, tha management snculd provide leadership in t?iis regard
. 6l Fed.
Peg.
at 24340.
82/26/98 11:47pm From:Thomas J.
Sopu, rto, Jr.
r"age UUb of'ld The NRC has authority zo penalize
'.."..s 'i..ensees.
The NRL can take erforcement act'cn pursuanr; to 1(
C.F.R.
50.7 based on
'iscr.iminatiorr bv an emplcye even
...".ough trie Deoartment f labor i"r)Oj.") has not made a prior determlnatic:i that secLicn 2:0 of "he Energy Recrcaniza"'i on Act
("~RA"}
was violated.
- Notably,
-..he VRC and D L have complementary, yet i.ndependent.
authorities and respcnsibilities
'". protecting employ es from discrimination and xetaliat',on for rai.sing matte s bearing on riuclea~
-afety.
Section 2"0/?11 empowers DOL t'o grant remedies d'r'ectly to employees who have suffc"cc disc"iminat on fo" engag.ing in protected activities; LL coes not 1'mit NRC's autl;o Lty urder the
~homin 'nergy Act tc investigate alleged discrim'nation and take action to combat it. ~,
~c.....p.o 51 Fed.
Rcg.
251"7 (Dockets:
50-4)3,
- ~0-414, EA-64-9~) {order imposing civil money
- penaLty, Julv 10, 19S6 Pet'tione s
and the public are entitled to have
=?ie NR"
"-nduc-an investigati.cn and to take erlorcement action against
- -PL to irs"re that
.the clianrels,of informat1on "rcr, FPL's mployco to the HHC
'emains epee and unte'"..tered l~y discriminatory prac=.aces o="
O'PL.
in that
- vein, Pe=itioncr" req est
=or a publ'c hea"'nc before Liie HRC's ASLB is wholly werxari'ted as ci Il'a te-o.
publ c po
- 3. 'y
-,nd shou d
bp. gl ante, the NPC.
I-'e:i,tioner have r;cia.:od 'evant "onside'ratt.on by the NRC.
newspaper a"ticl s for For aLL tho above s=ated
- reasoris, Petitioners see!:
NRC a;.t on in this matter.
RESPECTFrJLLY SrJBM".TTED, this 26th day of February, 1998 NATiONAL ~'ZT SAT:.ON CONS'UI>TM>T5 homas Sa porito, Jr.
Executive irector 0
2The ERA was amended by =he Na icnal V."..:rg.
~ol cy Ac'. cf 1 992 arid is:icw coded as section 211.
dd/db/dU il:Abpm from: Ihomas J.
aaporsto~
Jr.
Page 806 of'l3
- )on. Bill Clin-on, President Ur:i teci States of America
!l.e Nt: i te House
].630 Pennsyl.vania Ave.,
hN Nashinqton, Or 23500 Caro1yn Evans, Esp.
YucJ.ear Re,ulator.
Conuttlssion Atlant-F"~era.l Cen"er 6~ ~orsytN
$ ".,QN, Suito 2378" ALlanea,,"..corgi a 30303 Louis Reyes, homin st.ra cr Huclcat Regulatory Ccmm'. ssion Fcrsyth Dt., SN,
$uite 2.sTS5 At anta.. Georgia.303"3 Execu've Dirocto" Nuc'ear
- regulatory Cone'.ission Washington, D.C.'
- ?053C
!ion.
Bob G ai.am fin i ted Bta es
$er at r Sen..te Office Building Yashing:on, D.C.
20500 rspecto Gener~i Nu lear Regula"ory Cour;,iss. on i'fash.', ng"on, 0'.".
23500 Genera)
Media..}str'ut on I.'t lÃJ<
6
82/26/98 11:49pni From:Thomas J.
Sapor ito, Jr.
Page 887 of'13 FPL vmrkers pass the hat to ease effect ofsuspension IgRrlc Alan Sarton of
. ~ Nowa atatf HL'TCHINSON iSLANDSt.
Lucic Nuclear Plant employees arc scheduled this morning to ask their wllcagucs to donate money Ior fel-low workers they say were unfairly suspended by plant oflicials.
Workers will be collecting dona-tions at tbc Hutchinson island plant's two'ain entrances from 6 to 7.a.m.
today.
and wiU give the money to five employees suspended for three days without pay last week, said Rick Curtis, local president of thc International Brotlicrhnod of Electrical Workers, Plant officials say last. week' spate of punitive ruspcnsions is meant to k~ employee from mak-ing procedural errors such as thc ones that have plagued the plant in recent years.
"What ~w're trying to do here is make sure the employees know, that they are responsible and accountable for their work," said Dale Thomas, a spokesman for Florida Power and Light Co., the plant's owner. "Wc want to make sure they'c following prondures that are meant to make the plant safe."
The collection comes a week be-fore a U.S. Labor Dcpartmcnt inves-tigator is scheduled to interview 53 plant employees about a worker who was fired two months ago.
please see PIaL on A2 a
C H
k.
I O
C
4-0
- Stuart, Florida a Thursday, Februtsry 26, l998 S hfartio ('-ounty Editinn 7
0
~Mt.0 Q.0 V)
'7 ta0 C0r 0
t LL 8 CONTINUEO FAOM A1 The worker was fired after re-fusing to sign a waiver promising he would not break a ncw policy by working overtime hours'not approval by a computer system.
Curtis said the employee wanted to talk to an attorney before sign-ing the form and was fired for dis-obcdicncc.
The plant has taken criticism htcly from employees who claim managers fail to answer employ-ees'afety concerns. Plant employ-ees had morc complaints substan-tiated by federal.investigators last year than any of the nation's 65 nuclear
- plants, according to re-cords released rcccntly to The Stu-art ¹waPort St. I.ucie News.
Of the code violations found at the St. Lucie plant, overtime abuses surface most
- nAen, according to '.4uclear Regulatory Commission records.
Curtis said the union started its 'discipline relief fund" after five longtime workers werc sus-pended for three days without pay last week l'or doing work that did nof follow plant regulations.
The workers had no history of disobediencc and some had ncvcr taken a sick day bcforc being sent home last week, hc said. Previ-ously. the punishment for failing to follow plant procedures has been a written letter of reprimand or a day's suspension, Curtis said.
Curtis didn't have the details Wednesday of what mistakes the cmployecs had made.
"The morc (plant manage-ment) uses tactics of fear and in-timidation, thc morc wc'rc going to stick together,"
Curtis said.
"Right or wrong; what they have done did not warrant a three-day suspension."
Thomas said thc stepped-up discipline is the same corrective action taken at FPL's Turkey Creek Nuclear Plant in Miami-Dadc County after a string of er-rors there in the lute 1980s caused its performance rating to drop to among the worst in the nation.
Most of St. Lucic's problems are a result of employee who do not follow procedures, Thomas said. Thc increased discipline pol-Ky 'wiH co'n6nuc unlit thc number'f errors has been reduced.
he said.
Thc Labor Department investi-gator was scheduled to interview plant workers Wednesday but postponed thc visit until next week, Curtis said. The investiga-tor is scheduled to spend l5 to 45 minutes with each oi 53 employ-ees who might have knov ledge of thc fired worker's case or might have a dispute with the policy themselves.
U2/26/98 ll: blpir.
i'roar.: (horriae J.
Sapor i t.o, Jr. ago GGS of 91'3 The. Palm Beach Post THURSDAY, FE8RUARY 19. 1998 Problems force FPL nuclear shutdo vms e.
0 Sy Joie Neankl Ks BmrA Fher Shy'iiet JUNO BEACHHorida Power Ei.
Light Co. has shut down units at both of its nuclear plants in Sl. Luvie County and at Turkey Point in MiamiDade County because ofmechanical prob-lems.
The malfunctions don't threaten pubhc safety and won't affect customers' service.. Both plants should be'~~k up
.'oon, FPL said, and the shutdo'wns won t be a drain on FPL's power supplies.
"We'e not having to buy power,"
- companI'pokeswoman Stacey Shaw
. said. ".lt s a very mild time of year, so we'e able to generate power with our other facRies.
AtSt. Lucic, of5ciais had been track.
ing o problem in thc Unit I, reactor cool-ing system '~r about a month. They shut the unit down Monday night after the blcm Intensi5ed in one ofthe pumps.
e pump, vrhich carries waterheated tu 600 degree.
and compresse'd to 2/50 pounds per square inch, wasn't decom.
pressing water as required in the cooling ess. FPL plans to reactivate the umt by early next week.
Turkey Point's Unit 3 was shut down at 498 a.m. Monday, af;er alarms alerted plant of6cials that valves directing steam to'the main turbine had closed. Minutes later, a pipe developed a steam leak. FPL said the unit, near Miami,should be back in semce today.
~ The. Nuclear Reguhtuy Commission will.investigate whether operator error
.played a
part in the problems and whether FPL should be cited or fined.
"There's no indication at this point d>at emp)oyee error was involved," said Ktn c!bHc s Mpr vsvdrw:man
82/26/BB 1 I i S2pm Fro)n: Tho)nas J.
Sapor i to
> Jr.
Pago 818 of'13 c
THE PALM BEACH POST FRIDAY, JANUARY16. 1998 17A FPL powers up stock
.while customers wait t
f words could electrocute, 11orida Power & Light Co. just got zapped by thc Florida Pubhc Service Com-
.mission: "By virtually every measure "examined,"
tl)e PSC cor)eluded in a
.report released hst week, "FPI distri~
bution semce quaHty has declined over the period 1992 through 1996."
OK, but what'can tbe commission, and Floridians in g<<neral, do abnut it?
The answer is, little except talk.
Quality of service is considered when set Jng rates, and the commission all accept evidence about it, but Public Counsel jack Shreve says he has never seen poor service affect a rate. The report that shocked FPL ment)ons ways other states attempt to ne rates Io se~ce but suggests that those me~k-ods can produce bad as wdl as good consequences.
The PSC can levy 6nes, But fmcs don't repair lines.
The PSC compared the state's hrg-est pov'er company with the next three.
ln length ofinterruptions and customer c<mplaints, FPL has be.n the worst
~ since 1992. (Sly in interruptiors pcr 1,000 customers was FPL out-fumbled, by Rorida Power. But that company's record leveled of; FPI.'s is mrscning.
FPL cut response time from 55 minutes tu 45 fnrtop.priority calb since 1993. But longer responses for other calls increased the average to 81 min.
utes froin 61.
The company says this is old news.
lndccd, J)e PSC noted FPL's "Reliabil-ity 2000 Plan" and said "substantial progress" has been made.
It all happened bemuse the compa-ny cut jobs. The maintenance staff sh:L~k from 894 to 762 &om 1995 to mid.1997. james Broadhead.
chairman of the parent lx)u)pa))y. FPL fr.o)y, put tl:e company on a course to thin down
'and hest productivity (and stock prices) in expectation of competition in the power industry as ithas rome to the
'phone industry. FPI. Group agreed to buy 35 power plants in tifaine this month to get in on competition expect-ed to open in New England this year.
Coincidentally, this week's f'reeze stated New Engia))drrs rethinking the idea. They arc asku)g: When power is out. whose customers have it rested
~ Number of service tnquMes (Per 100,000 customers) 4,
~
I ~
l,g II
~.'.9
'.'l:pi 25'.'0'5 J
%e
~'%ao
~oecseeoo. 5
'0,
%992
'93
'94
'95
'96
'9l<
~
SO" RCE:. )x)OI Put bc Set wee Comnbgyi Dnieper. oicqus ~4)ts>s cstisvca of se ROr ca Geetic )Al.tyir4urzy MAkKHEVFHLL/S'il<) ct Grst? The PSC votes that "even in an era ofre~i competition, where a cus-tomer has a choice ofgeneration suppli-ers, the e)u)ct same local distribuuon systen) will provide that customer' power dueugh its power linea."
If competition only means better service for staying with the oM compa-ny than customers get vvhile saving money with a ncw one but less service than they used to get every-one loses except stockholders. If that turns out to bc the case, Mr. Broadhead is driving FPL up a dead<nd street.
Florida electric rates are Iow corn-pared with other areas',
but FPL's serssce is poor compared with other Florida compa)ues'.
The PSC report, "Review ofRlectric Service Quality and Reliability," is available by vtriting to the PubL'c Service Commission Diri-sion of Research and Regulatory Re-
)-;ew, 2540 Shumad Oak Sh d.. TaIia-hassee.
F'a. 323994850 or by calling (850) 413-6800.
When people read all of what the PSC said about FPL, the ut)Tity may be hounded h)to providing better service.
'H)at would help.
82/26/Se il:64pm From:Thomas J.
Sapor'iso>
Jr.
Page Ol i of I3
~
~
- - Complaining about FPL In a lengthy study, state regulators said that FPL's service quality had declined e
~ ~ over the past 6 years by nearly every measure.
Average length of Anntta1 conqHaintt to the pose Mertup5oee Pubic Sen4ce Cornmlssion Annual complalnh to FPI.
t3i 447
%3 N7
~ ~
~
~
~W
- 0 5
C
~
'2
'0l 'H
'as
'os 'tz Setto: ~
i PtO]tCl&0 LCA4'I
'ss
'ss 'll
'+ecte1 to>>
ROB BARGE/SL3R A>Vs' Erorrr IA FPL's slippage coincided with a series ofwell.publicized citations Sy federal regulators for violations
. 4t the company's rudear power plant in St. Lucre County.
The years covered by the com-mission's study also saw FPL n.ove ahead arith an aggressive program of downsizing that trimmed hundreds f:om the com-pany s payroll, while transforming APLinto a darhng on %'all Street.
The layoffs were undertaken ip the name ofcompetitiveness, in
. preparation for. the day when utili-p deregulation comes to Florida the day when cus'.omers would 5e able to choose their electric Company much as they pick thei lpng-distance provider today.
'ut the rising customer com-phints teH a diferent story'than the upward movement of FPL
- stock, which nearly doubled in Value in the past several yea".s, posing at SS7 a share Friday.
"ln a future compebtive arena in which retail (competition) pro-
~ides a choice of electric smme
... to customers," the commission warned in its report, "the quality of service issues willbe of critical importance to the {power) suppli-ers, as well as to customers.'rmando Opera.
FPL's new vice presidert of distribution, said that increasing customer com-plaints paint a misleading picture.
Vlivera said the increase reflects the fact that FPL, which serves 7.5 million Floridians, adds thousands of new customers every year.
"lf you
)ook at those cerly surveys, the customer satisfaction level actually kept increasing,"
Olivera said. "It's hard to sav, the customer perceived there was ac-
,tually a problem."
But the problems are readily apparent in the commission's re-port. The regulatory agency said that cutbacks in tree trmming in the early 1990s are partly to blame for FPL's declining perfonnance.
Customers today also are bet-ter able to teII when power has been interrupted: video players, digital clocks and computers regis-ter.the slightest disruption in elec-tricity.
"T renty vears
- ago, you wnuldn't know if your electric alarm dock might be two or three minutes off. Now, you come home and ynu see your UCR blinking,"
said Cari Vinson, who oversaw the study as senior management ana-lyst m the commission's Research and Regulatorv Review Division.
"It's as ifthe customers have a much more sensitive electrica niomtors at home that give them a much more accurate picture ofthe level ofservice they're rcAxiving."
Vinson said that FPL has dern.
nnstrated that it is serious about imprtnmg its performance. But he also said the commission wil)mon-itor the utiHty's efforts to make sure the promises are kept.
Vinson said the commission's surest method forpressuring utib-tics to ir.>prove is by pubhcizing negative findings Layoffs helped stock, hurt service
uzt~o/55 Li:nopn rrorn:ihomaa J
~ Saporito>'".
Page 012 of'13 THE PALM BEACH POST SATURDAY,.JANUARY 10, 1998 ervice rom 111 eC iile saesa s
A report by regulators found Florida's largest utility's service has dropped,
'by virtuallyevery measure examined.'y John INuratwsM Pdsg Bcpl Pasl S~ I'M State regulators have confirme what many Florid Power &Light customers have been saying for years:
The state'.s hrgest unlityis not as dependable as itused to be.
Power interruptions have increased in numbcrmd last longer ea<% year; and it's taking increasingly longer for FPL's trouble&ooters to fix reported problems.
Those are the condusions of a tongovpited study released Friday by the Florida Public Service Commis-
- sion, "Byvirtuallyevery measure examined, FPL distri-bution service quality has dedined," the report said. "It is dear that problems affecting service quality were increasingly an issue of concern to FPL's customers."
'The commission decided tv study the power com-pany's service reliabilityaftn sn in~ m custnmer complaints in recent years. The report examines utility service from 1992 to )997, loohng at the performance of FPL along with that of FlorIda Power Corp. in St Petersburg, Gulf Power Co. m the Panhandle and Tampa Ekctric Co.
An FPL spokeswoman said the report depicta the
- past, and th~~ the company is moving quickly to improve service quality.
"The rcport of thc PSC is history," FPL'a Kathy Scott said Friday. "beany ofthe'propans are already in phioe to tdre correiave ioeasures.
'mong the fixes FPL promises:
$460 million pumped hito programs for replacing cables and trans-formers, deploying master trouMe-shooters and in-creaxng tree trimming, FPtwhich admits to the prob!eius outhned by the conunission, a!so made top-'evel personnel changes and conducted internal stud
UzlzbiSU il:otpm t.rom:!r!omas J.
bay
. >co, Jr.
t'age Ui 3 ot'l3 IS U
11 IIlto aine The purchase of 35 power plants willgive FPL control of
. 520,000 accounts there.
Bykkn ifuawsid Ale BaCk Pal RefWild JUNO BEACHh a move that will
! provide valuable trainb!g for the day it,
'as to hustle for customers in Honda.
.'he parent company of Florida Power 4
'ight has aqeed to buy 35 power phnts
'rom Maine s largest electric company.
FPLGrnup's announcement Tuesday
'omes just 26 months before Maine is scheduled to alknv utilities to compete fur asidential, commercial and hdust4 al business. FPL's Maine operations are
'xpected to provide the company with a
, learning laboratory, analysts say.
The $846 millionacquisition aho M give FPL ax~ to two other New Ea-gland states which, like Maine, are.
moving toveard competition. Massachu-
. setts and Rhode Island are scheduled to begin deregulating their utilities this "itwillteach them how to compete for a customer,"
said Wall Street analyst Daniel Ford,
'irector at HSBC James Capel in New ork "lhey'll be invoh ed in selling electricity to anyone who wiQ buy it."
FPL is buying virtually aH of Central
'aine Power Co.'s assets. 'Ihe buyout will give FPL a customer portfolio tltat
'ncludes 520,000residential, commercial and hdustrial accounts.
In addition, FPL announced its h-tention to build three power phut>> in Maine. We construction woupM.mora than double the megawatt output of Central Maine Power's 35 facilities.
Aho on Tuesday, FPL announced it will buy bvo power plants outside of Maine. one near Boston and the other
~anal
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EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM:
DUE: 04/06/98 EDO CONTROL: G980125 DOC DT: 02/27/98 FINAL REPLY:
Thomas J. Saporito, Jr.
National Litigation Consultants TO:
Chairman Jackson DATE: 03/04/98 ASSIGNED TO:
CONTACT:
FOR SIGNATURE OF
- Collins, NRR DESC:
TION UNDER 10 CFR 2.206 REQUEST FOR AGENCY ON -- FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT COMPANYI ST. LUCIE, UNITS 1
6 2, AND TURKEY POINT, UNITS 3
6 4
EMPLOYEES RAISING SAFETY CONCERNS
{Charles Bogacki)
CRC NO:
ROUTING:
Callan Thadani Thompson Norry Blaha Burns
- Cyr, OGC JGo Gleaves N