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Capacity Shortfall Incident

A capacity shortfall incident is when the demand for energy is greater than the supply. It is very rare for a situation to arise in which FPL cannot meet the energy demands of our customers. However, extreme weather combined with unanticipated loss of power generation or transmission equipment can cause capacity shortages.

We have a comprehensive emergency plan which ensures that we’re ready to respond safely and as quickly as possible in the event of a capacity shortage. We monitor our power supply and delivery system 24/7. We train our employees annually so that they are always ready to activate the company’s plan to respond to threats to our electrical infrastructure.

We coordinate assistance agreements with other utilities for generation capacity support to prevent shortages. We also coordinate our actions with federal, state and county governments. 

 

How do we mitigate a capacity shortfall incident?

  • We operate all available power plants at maximum output.
  • We initiate energy-saving measures at our facilities, including turning off unnecessary lighting and lowering thermostat settings.
  • Additionally, we activate our voluntary load management program with large commercial and industrial customers. 
  • We implement our voluntary residential On Call® program under which heating and cooling systems may be cycled on and off, and water heaters and pool pumps may be turned off to reduce overall demand for electricity.
    • Customers in the On Call® program receive credits on their electric bills by volunteering to allow FPL to turn off their appliances or equipment when a need exists. 

As a last resort, during extreme emergency situations, FPL could activate controlled power interruptions which may impact your electrical service at home and at work. Controlled power interruptions are initiated in order to prevent larger more widespread outages and also avoid potential damage to the electrical system.

During a controlled power interruption we rotate power off and on throughout the state. This means your power may be out for up to 30 minutes at a time, and then a different area will experience a 30 minute interruption. This process continues until the emergency system subsides. 

What can customers do to help?

Participate in FPL’s voluntary load management programs. These programs are a great way to help ease the demand for energy during a capacity shortfall incident and also provide customers financial incentives for signing up. Another way customers can help is to conserve energy. Here are a few tips you can follow to help:

Cold Weather:

  • Heat your home at 68 degrees or cooler with the thermostat fan switch on "auto."
  • Lower your thermostat to 65 degrees or cooler at bedtime or when you're away.
  • Be sure to turn off unnecessary lights.

Hot Weather:

  • Cool your home at 78 degrees or warmer with the thermostat fan switched to auto.
  • Raise your thermostat to 82 degrees or warmer when you're away.
  • Be sure to turn off lights and ceiling fans when you leave the room.

Stay safe during a capacity shortfall incident


Safety is a cornerstone at FPL and it’s especially important for customers to stay safe during a capacity shortfall incident. Customers should take the following precautions. 

  • Keep your FPL account number and our phone number (800-4-OUTAGE) readily available should a power outage last longer than 30 minutes. Having your account number ready means that you will be able to quickly access your account and receive important information through our automated system.
  • Ensure that all electrical appliances, especially ovens and stoves, are turned off to prevent fires should the power return while these appliances are unattended.
  • Use caution when driving. Power interruptions may cause traffic signals to stop working without warning. If anyone comes to an intersection with a non-working traffic signal or railroad crossing, Florida law requires that they treat it as a four-way stop.
  • Visit FPL.com/safety for additional safety tips.

Why does cold weather have such a big impact on customer demand for electricity?

Many Florida homes have inefficient heating systems, which can use three times the amount of energy of cooling systems.

What kind of programs does FPL have for energy management?

We have a voluntary energy management program for about 930 large commercial and industrial customers. Customers who participate in the program, agree to use backup power to reduce overall demand on the energy grid. In return for their participation in the program, these customers are compensated with a reduced monthly electric bill.

We also have On Call®, a voluntary energy management program for residential and small businesses. Customers who participate allow us to remotely turn off select equipment to reduce the overall demand on the energy grid. There are more than 800,000 On Call® customers who receive a credit on their monthly bill in exchange for their participation in the program.

How can customers stay informed?