The island's electricity leaves the mainland in Cape Coral, travels to Pine Island, then flows through wires strung on poles to Sanibel. So before Sanibel could be repowered, Pine Island had to be electrified, Ruth said, and there were hiccoughs along the way.

Sanibel Island receives its electricity primarily through a submarine cable system that runs under the San Carlos Bay, connecting the island to the mainland power grid in Florida. This infrastructure is managed by the LCEC (Lee County Electric Cooperative). Because the island is a barrier island prone to extreme weather and hurricanes, the electrical system is designed with significant resilience in mind. Following major storms like Hurricane Ian, there has been an aggressive push to "harden" the grid, which includes replacing traditional wooden poles with heavy-duty concrete ones and, where possible, moving lines underground to protect them from high winds and storm surges. While the main feed comes from the mainland, many homes and businesses on Sanibel have also adopted solar power and backup generator systems to ensure autonomy during local outages. The balance of maintaining a modern electrical grid while preserving the island's natural, low-impact environment is a constant priority for local utility planners and the city government.