Tampa Electric identified substantial Hurricane Milton damage in its service area caused by hurricane-force winds, flooding and heavy rain that has further saturated the ground.
Many Central Florida roads were blocked by debris, fallen trees and hazardous downed power lines. Ensuring customer safety is the top priority; the team must first make the area safe, then assess the damage and work to restore power.
As of 10am on October 10th, approximately 590,000 Tampa Electric customers were impacted by this historic hurricane. To assist with damage assessment and power restoration, more than 6,000 utility workers from as far away as Canada, Texas and Minnesota began work in areas they could safely access.
In this first phase, damage assessors evaluate the severity of damage to power lines and infrastructure, identifying affected areas and assessing safety risks. Based on these assessments, Tampa Electric will provide a date by which the company expects to have power restored to the majority of homes and businesses that can safely receive it. This estimate considers various factors, including the extent of the damage, accessibility, prioritization of repairs and safety considerations for both workers and the public.
Many customers will likely have their power restored before then.
“Our hearts go out to everyone affected by Hurricane Milton,” said Archie Collins, president and chief executive officer of Tampa Electric. “We know how difficult it is to be without power during such an overwhelming time, and we want you to know that we are with you every step of the way.” At Tampa Electric, we are deeply committed to restoring power as quickly and safely as possible, and we are here to support our customers throughout their recovery. Please know that our crews are working around the clock, and while this process may take time, we are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that every customer is cared for. We kindly urge patience, as we anticipate a complex and lengthy restoration process due to damage to overhead lines and flooding that will limit our access to many areas.”
Tampa Electric will take a priority restoration approach to facilitate a swift recovery for the community. First, the utility ensures that its power plants and transmission lines are operational, laying the foundation for effective restoration. Next, the focus shifts to restoring power to essential services such as hospitals, police stations and fire departments, recognizing their critical role in the safety and well-being of the community.
After addressing these vital services, attention turns to public utilities, including communication providers, supermarkets and home supply centers, which are crucial for daily life and recovery efforts. Then, Tampa Electric works to restore power to the largest groups of customers as quickly as possible, ensuring that every home and business is brought back online.
Tampa Electric reminds customers that dangerous conditions exist following a storm, and to always heed the advice of local, state and federal emergency authorities in storm-affected areas. In addition, please follow these important safety tips and precautions:
- Downed is dangerous.
- Always assume that downed power lines are energized; never drive over or touch them, including any objects, including tree branches, or people in contact with the lines. Stay away and call 911, then contact Tampa Electric at 877-588-1010.
- Avoid chain link fences, as they may be electrified by a downed line out of sight and can conduct electricity over significant distances.
- Use portable generators safely.
- DO NOT connect a portable generator to home circuits. Connecting a generator to home circuits may cause power to flow to outside lines, posing life-threatening danger to line workers. If you are unsure, please consult with a licensed electrician.
- Plug appliances directly into the generator.
- Never allow a portable generator to get wet or operate in or near the rain. Generators are designed to produce powerful voltage and if moisture enters, an electrocution or explosion may result.
- DO NOT take portable generators into a residence or any enclosed space (including closed garages), as deadly carbon monoxide gas could build up.
- Don’t mix water and electricity.
- Avoid floodwaters, as they may be energized with electrical current and pose other hazards. If breakers were turned off prior to evacuation, ensure that electrical equipment is dry and undamaged before turning them back on. Do not touch wet or damaged electrical equipment, such as transformers, circuit breakers, fuses, power lines, or wiring.
- Prepare for power.
- Inspect electric service systems for any damage that may prevent power restoration and, if necessary, arrange for a licensed electrician to make repairs. For additional information, visit TampaElectric.com/PowerRestoration and click on Damaged Meter Equipment.
- To prevent circuit overloads when power is restored, disconnect or turn off any appliances that may start automatically.
- Clear debris carefully.
- If you clean up storm debris, stack it away from travel areas and power poles to avoid interfering with restoration efforts. Never pull tree limbs off power lines as they could be energized. Never go into areas with dense debris or downed trees as power lines could be hiding underneath.
- Beware of gas leaks.
- The odor of rotten eggs is an indicator that a natural gas line might be damaged. If you smell gas, immediately move to safety and call 911, then call Peoples Gas at 877-832-6747. Learn more at PeoplesGas.com/Safety.
- Avoid scams.
- Scammers know we’re distracted by a storm. They can easily create new websites that look like ours and use other tactics like spoofing our phone number and posing as one of our TECO team members. Visit TampaElectric.com/Scam to learn more and report a scam.
For more safety information, links to Tampa Electric’s outage map and information on its restoration process, check online.
Tampa Electric (TECO), one of Florida’s largest investor-owned electric utilities, serves more than 840,000 customers in West Central Florida.
