third parties for property and personal injury damage, a failure to perform under applicable power sales agreements or other agreements and associated loss of revenues from terminated agreements or liability for liquidated damages under continuing agreements, and replacement equipment costs or an obligation to purchase or generate replacement power at higher prices.
Uncertainties and risks inherent in operating and maintaining FPL’s facilities include, but are not limited to:
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risks associated with facility start-up operations, such as whether the facility will achieve projected operating performance on schedule and otherwise as planned;
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failures in the availability, acquisition or transportation of fuel or other necessary supplies;
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the impact of unusual or adverse weather conditions and natural disasters, including, but not limited to, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes and droughts;
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performance below expected or contracted levels of output or efficiency;
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breakdown or failure, including, but not limited to, explosions, fires, leaks or other major events, of equipment, transmission and distribution lines or pipelines;
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availability of replacement equipment;
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risks of property damage or human injury from energized equipment, hazardous substances or explosions, fires, leaks or other events;
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availability of adequate water resources and ability to satisfy water intake and discharge requirements;
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inability to identify, manage properly or mitigate equipment defects in FPL’s facilities;
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use of new or unproven technology;
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risks associated with dependence on a specific type of fuel or fuel source, such as commodity price risk, availability of adequate fuel supply and transportation, and lack of available alternative fuel sources;
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increased competition due to, among other factors, new facilities, excess supply, shifting demand and regulatory changes; and
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insufficient insurance, warranties or performance guarantees to cover any or all lost revenues or increased expenses from the foregoing.
FPL’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be negatively affected by a lack of growth or slower growth in the number of customers or in customer usage.
Growth in customer accounts and growth of customer usage each directly influence the demand for electricity and the need for additional power generation and power delivery facilities, as well as the need for energy-related commodities such as natural gas. Customer growth and customer usage are affected by a number of factors outside the control of FPL, such as mandated energy efficiency measures, demand side management requirements, and economic and demographic conditions, such as population changes, job and income growth, housing starts, new business formation and the overall level of economic activity. A lack of growth, or a decline, in the number of customers or in customer demand for electricity or natural gas and other fuels may cause FPL to fail to fully realize the anticipated benefits from significant investments and expenditures and could have a material adverse effect on FPL’s growth, business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
FPL’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects can be materially adversely affected by weather conditions, including, but not limited to, the impact of severe weather.
Weather conditions directly influence the demand for electricity and natural gas and other fuels and affect the price of energy and energy-related commodities. In addition, severe weather and natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and earthquakes, can be destructive and cause power outages and