Pensacola Neighborhoods Eligible for Underground Power
Florida Power and Light has flagged some Pensacola neighborhoods for conversion of overhead power lines to underground lines under its storm resilience program.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Utilities
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Florida Power and Light has notified some Pensacola residents that their neighborhoods are eligible for the Storm Secure Underground Program, which converts overhead power lines to underground lines. Residential underground conversion work in Gulf Breeze began last month.
Why it matters
Underground lines performed 85% better than overhead lines during hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton in 2024, and about 14 times better during Hurricane Isaias. The conversion is intended to make the grid more storm resilient and speed power restoration after storms.
Gulf Breeze's residential conversion phase is approximately $8 million and its commercial corridor conversion is approximately $7.5 million, both funded by the City of Gulf Breeze. Storm performance comparisons come from FPL's 2024 hurricane data, and the cost per Pensacola neighborhood has not been disclosed.
The players
Florida Power and Light
Florida Power and Light is the state's largest electric utility, serving millions of customers across Florida and operating the Storm Secure Underground Program.
City of Gulf Breeze
The City of Gulf Breeze is a municipality in Santa Rosa County, Florida, that is funding its own power line conversion work along Hwy 98 and in residential areas.
The details
FPL conducts an outreach phase before design and construction begins on conversions. All customers pay for these projects through the storm protection plan cost recovery clause on their monthly bills, which averages $136, with about $10 of that bill funding the projects.
Timeline
2022: Myrtle Grove became the pilot community, with 131 homes having their power lines buried.
2024: Underground lines were tested against hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton.
Hurricane Isaias: Gulf Breeze finished converting power lines on the Hwy 98 business corridor just days before the storm hit.
This week: Some Pensacola residents were notified of their neighborhood's eligibility.
Next year: Gulf Breeze residential underground work is expected to be well underway.
Roadmap
The Storm Secure Underground Program, which began with a 2022 pilot in Myrtle Grove, is now reaching new Northwest Florida communities. Its expansion reflects utilities' broader move to harden electric grids after repeated hurricanes in the region.
Residents whose neighborhoods are converted will see their overhead power lines replaced with underground lines, which the utility says perform better during hurricanes. Customers statewide will continue paying for these projects through the storm protection cost recovery clause on their monthly bills.
The takeaway
Pensacola residents flagged for conversion should watch for FPL's outreach notices, which precede the design and construction phase that typically lasts about two years.
What happens next
Gulf Breeze residential underground conversion work is expected to be well underway by this time next year.
Further reading
Explore more on Pensacola utilities and how power grid upgrades are reshaping the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WEAR.
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