FMEA Recognizes Members for Worker Safety with Annual Safety Awards

This past Saturday, at the Florida Lineman Competition Awards Banquet, the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) announced the winners of the 2025 Safety Awards. The recipients were honored for their continued commitment to safe work practices during the past year.

FMEA recognizes and rewards safe operations through its annual Safety Awards. Utilities are placed into categories based on their total worker hours and rewarded for the most incident-free records. The incidence rate used to judge utilities was based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses compared to the total number of worker hours during 2025, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

“Safety is the foundation of reliable electric utility operations and the cornerstone of employee protection. Every task, from routine maintenance to emergency power restoration, must be performed with a commitment to hazard awareness, proper procedures, and accountability. Each of these winners exemplifies this commitment and we commend them for a job well done,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA Executive Director.

A total of 17 utilities received a Safety Award in their category, including:

Category A (0-59,999 worker-hours):

City of Alachua – Perfect Record

City of Blountstown – Perfect Record

City of Bushnell – Perfect Record

City of Chattahoochee – Perfect Record

Town of Havana – Perfect Record

City of Mount Dora – Perfect Record

City of Newberry – Perfect Record

City of Wauchula – Perfect Record

Category B (60,000-199,999 worker-hours):

Beaches Energy Services – Perfect Record

City of Leesburg – Perfect Record

Category C (200,000-399,999 worker-hours):

Ocala Electric Utility – Perfect Record  

New Smyrna Beach Utilities – 2nd place

Keys Energy Services – 3rd place

Category D (400,000-949,999 worker-hours):

Gainesville Regional Utilities – 1st place

City of Tallahassee – 2nd place

Kissimmee Utility Authority – 3rd place

Category F (2,500,000-greater worker-hours):

JEA – Special Recognition

Florida’s public power utilities are locally owned, locally controlled and locally operated, enabling them to quickly respond to the needs of their communities. They are also among some of the most reliable and affordable power providers in the state. For more information on FMEA and Florida’s public power communities, please visit www.flpublicpower.com.

Representatives from utility recipients, from left to right: Gainesville Regional Utilities, Kissimmee Utility Authority, New Smyrna Beach Utilities, City of Tallahassee, Ocala Electric Utility, Keys Energy Services, and JEA.