Hurricanes Helene & Milton Emergency Response

Hurricanes Helene & Milton Emergency Response

Hurricanes Helene & Milton Emergency Response

Scope: Storm response and power restoration across five states following two major hurricanes.
Locations:
Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia
Clients:
Duke, QISG, Glades Electric Cooperative, New Smyrna Beach Utilities, Florida Power & Light Co, Dominion, American Electric Power, Carolina Power & Signalization, Lee Electrical Construction LLC, City
of Tallahassee

 

In late September 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida, as a Category 4 storm, bringing destructive winds and flash flooding that reached deep into Georgia and the Carolinas. Less than two weeks later, Hurricane Milton struck near Tampa as a strong Category 3, dropping more than 18 inches of rain, spawning tornadoes, and causing widespread wind damage.

The combined impact of the two storms was significant: more than 3 million customers in Florida lost power, with hundreds of thousands more affected across the Southeast. States of emergency were declared in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, the Carolinas, and Virginia.

Irby Construction began mobilizing before the storms made landfall, deploying crews across the region to assist utility partners with emergency restoration efforts. Our teams responded quickly to clear debris, repair transmission and distribution lines, and help restore power under difficult and hazardous conditions.

During the peak of these two hurricanes, Irby had 251 distribution and 369 transmission employees working to restore power to the resilient communities of the Southeast.

Despite the devastation and logistical challenges, Irby remains committed to full restoration. Depending on the location, restoration is expected to conclude in the Fall of 2026. We’re proud to support our customers and the communities they serve when it matters most.

Start Date: September 2024
Completion Date: Ongoing

 

If you would like to request information on this project or submit a request for bid, click here. 

 

Destin Resiliency and Rebuild Projects

Destin Resiliency and Rebuild Projects

Destin Resiliency and Rebuild Projects

Project Type: Transmission and New Build
Scope:
Reroute and upgrade Destin’s main transmission line to
increase ampacity.
Location: Destin, FL
Client: Florida Power & Light (FPL)

 

In June 2024, Irby Construction broke ground on the Destin Resiliency and Rebuild Projects, an initiative designed to enhance the system’s reliability and capacity for Florida Power & Light (FPL). The job involved rerouting and upgrading Destin’s primary transmission line to increase ampacity and reinforce the grid in one of the Gulf region’s most critical corridors.

The scope included installing new large concrete poles and realigning the transmission path through a densely developed, high-traffic area. Given the job’s visibility and location, Irby implemented strategic night shifts and coordinated closely with local stakeholders, including business owners, to minimize disruptions. 

To avoid costly substation shutdowns, Irby partnered with MG Dyess, a Quanta Services sister company, to perform energized work. This approach eliminated the need for outages and ensured continuous power delivery throughout the construction period.

Extensive pre-construction planning with FPL and early outreach to the local community helped streamline execution. Night construction allowed the crews to stay on schedule without impacting daytime traffic.

Completed on time and under budget, with zero safety incidents, this job delivered significant system upgrades and addressed a long-standing infrastructure need, improving overall grid resiliency for FPL customers.

Start Date: June 2024
Completion Date: August 2025

 

If you would like to request information on this project or submit a request for bid, click here. 

 

SMT Houston IV BESS Project

SMT Houston IV BESS Project

SMT Houston IV

Project Type: Battery Energy Storage System
Scope:
160 megawatt / 320 megawatt-hour Battery Energy Storage
System (BESS).

Location: Houston, TX
Client: SMT Energy

 

In April 2025, Irby Construction Company broke ground on SMT Houston IV, a grid-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) developed by SMT Energy in partnership with CenterPoint Energy. Located in the Houston Zone of the ERCOT market, the project will deliver 160 megawatts of capacity and 320 megawatt-hours of storage to support peak demand, stabilize the grid, and enhance the integration of renewable energy across Texas.

Irby is serving as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor, bringing industry-leading expertise in battery infrastructure and high-voltage systems. The SMT Houston IV site will connect to CenterPoint Energy’s transmission system, reinforcing system reliability. 

Irby’s battery division spent over a year engineering the project for maximum efficiency. The team is leveraging experience from more than 30 BESS builds to proactively manage subcontractor coordination, mitigate permitting risks, and maintain the schedule.

Clear communication between engineering and field teams has proven critical, supporting the smooth execution from day one. Construction is scheduled to be completed by mid-2026.

Start Date: April 2025
Completion Date: Scheduled for June 2026

 

If you would like to request information on this project or submit a request for bid, click here. 

 

Duke Energy – Mosaic APW AF Line

Duke Energy – Mosaic APW AF Line

Duke Energy – Mosaic APW AF Line

Project Type: Transmission
Scope:
1.9 miles of 69kV and 6.4 miles of 230kV T/L Rebuild
Location:
Wauchula, FL
Client:
Duke Energy Florida

 

This project included construction of 8.3 miles of 115kV/69kV line on the Mosaic Mine property in order to reroute an existing line around a future mine site.

The scope of work included setting 67 concrete poles and pulling 6.4 miles of 230kV, with 1.9 miles of 69kV underbuild. Irby also removed 33 structures and 4.5 miles of wire as part of the re-route.

We partnered with fellow Quanta sister company MG Dyess to build a permanent road throughout the right of way and to mat wetlands.

Because road construction was underway at the same time as the T-line work, coordination between the two companies on site was essential to its success. In addition to weekly calls with MG Dyess, the ability to complete the project efficiently required communication and coordination at the field level. Irby and MG Dyess superintendents were key players in the project’s ultimate success.

Thanks to this highly effective collaborative relationship, the work was completed on time and on budget.

Start Date: October 2023
Completion Date: April 2024

 

If you would like to request information on this project or submit a request for bid, click here. 

 

Jefferson Davis Electric Cooperative 230KV T-Line System Loop Upgrade

Jefferson Davis Electric Cooperative 230KV T-Line System Loop Upgrade

Jefferson Davis Electric Cooperative 230KV T-Line System Loop Upgrade

Project Type: Transmission and Distribution
Scope:
Upgrade approximately 105 miles of 230kV T/L with UB Distribution on several sections.
Location:
Lake Charles, LA
CLIENT: Jefferson Davis Electric Cooperative (JDEC)

Irby is working in collaboration with several Quanta operating units to complete approximately 105 miles of JDEC transmission line that have been damaged from previous storms, the worst of which was Hurricane Laura in August of 2020.

The existing system is a combination of 69kV and 138kV lines that run through two Louisiana parishes. Irby’s work will upgrade these lines to a 230kV system to support future growth in these communities.

The on site team is jacking structures at the point of receipt that will then be delivered assembled to the right-of-way. There are more than 1,300 structures to complete.

Crews are also conducting wire stringing operations (both transmission and distribution under build), erecting structures in all marsh areas, and assisting with underground work at three water crossings.

The two biggest challenges on this project have been what crews have unofficially (but appropriately) labeled the two “big Ms” of Louisiana— mud and mosquitoes.

Start Date: July 2023
Completion Date: In Progress

 

If you would like to request information on this project or submit a request for bid, click here.