TAMPA, Fla., June 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hurricane season starts
June 1, but Tampa Electric prepares year-round to deal with the potential
impacts of hurricanes and widespread power outages. Tampa Electric's
comprehensive storm plan is in place and ready to help restore power as
safely and quickly as possible in the event of a storm.
Hurricane season, which runs through Nov. 30, is a particularly
vulnerable time for the system of wires and equipment producing and
delivering electricity to homes and businesses. Severe storms can damage
Tampa Electric's energy production and delivery systems, and power outages
are not uncommon during storm conditions.
As with all its activities, safety is Tampa Electric's number one
priority following a storm. Tampa Electric's second objective in the event
of widespread outages is to restore power to the largest number of
customers in the shortest possible time. Team members work to restore power
to the entire service area as safely and quickly as possible.
Tampa Electric's restoration priorities
Electric service is restored in a pre-determined order of priority.
Facilities identified as "critical" to public health and safety by
governmental agencies, such as hospitals, disaster centers and main police
and fire stations, come first. This way, these critical agencies can assist
with other storm-related problems or injuries.
For the protection of public health, primary water and sewer
installations are next, followed by all others, including communication
service providers, schools, nursing homes, supermarkets, home
improvement/building supply centers, insurance facilities, etc.
Due to the configuration of the power system, part of a residential
subdivision could have its power restored while another is still without
power. All residential areas are considered equally important, and Tampa
Electric works safely and quickly to restore service to all.
When a major storm's arrival is imminent, Tampa Electric coordinates
with utilities and contractors across the nation to mobilize crews towards
Florida. Tampa Electric's crews are placed on call so that they are
available to repair any damage affecting Tampa Electric's lines and
equipment, but only when they can do so safely.
Reporting emergency and non-emergency power outages
This year, the company is implementing a new, dedicated toll-free power
outage phone number. Starting in June, residential and commercial customers
will be able to call (877) 588-1010 to report an electric emergency or
power outage.
Tampa Electric has also invested in a new "outage and restoration"
initiative, which will give the company's call center the ability to handle
up to 30,000 calls at once, through its automated phone system. This
additional capacity is expected to minimize busy signals, even during
post-storm call volumes.
For all other inquiries, customers should use the following numbers:
* (813) 223-0800 inside Hillsborough County
* (863) 299-0800 in Polk County
* (888) 223-0800 (toll-free) outside Hillsborough County or out of state
Updating customer contact information
When a customer calls to report an outage, Tampa Electric's automated
phone system uses his or her telephone number at the location where service
is delivered to identify the trouble spot. Tampa Electric account numbers
can also serve as identifiers.
It is important that Tampa Electric has updated telephone numbers. This
helps ensure that Tampa Electric's outage management system is updated and
ready to automatically generate a work order for repair crews if an outage
occurs at that home or place of business.
The system groups outage calls by location, checks them against a
detailed circuit model database and predicts where the problem is. Updated
mobile computers in service trucks allow crews to access the expanded
information and quickly respond to the outage. This is the fastest, most
efficient way Tampa Electric can restore power.
To help prepare for restoration, Tampa Electric is asking customers who
may have changed their home or business telephone numbers (the phone number
where electric service is delivered) to inform the company of the change.
The quickest, easiest way to update a phone number is to go online, and
follow these instructions:
* Go to http://www.tampaelectric.com
* Click on "Residential or Business"
* Click on "Customer Service"
* Click on "Your Account"
* Click on "Update Your Telephone Number"
* Provide your name, address, account number, the last four digits of
your Social Security number and your e-mail address.
Customers' role in restoring service
Following a storm, Tampa Electric's plan relies on teams of personnel
patrolling the electric system to identify or pinpoint problems. Customers
can enhance their safety and Tampa Electric's restoration efforts by
observing the following guidelines:
Stay away from any downed power lines. These lines may still be
energized. If so, they are dangerous. Downed lines do not have to pop and
snap to be energized. All persons should avoid any contact with any downed
line or any object, such as a tree branch, fence, vehicle or even water
that has come in contact with a downed power line. It is safest to assume
any downed power line is energized.
Use portable generators safely. DO NOT connect a portable generator to
home circuits. Plug appliances directly to the generator. Connecting a
generator to home circuits may cause power to flow to outside lines, posing
life-threatening danger to restoration crews. Also, portable generators
must NOT be taken into a residence or any enclosed space where deadly
carbon monoxide gasses could build up. There are also other devices, such
as invertors, that can provide some emergency backup power for small
appliances through an automobile engine. (Note: this should not be done in
a closed garage.)
Obtain a telephone that plugs directly into the wall jack. Portable
household telephones won't work without electricity and area cell phone
systems could be disrupted.
In the event of an outage, prepare the home for power restoration.
Customers should make sure their homes are ready to safely receive
electricity once power has been restored. Make sure there are no flammable
items on the stove, no irons left on or other potentially dangerous
situations. Turn off as many appliances as possible that require
electricity and turn them on one by one after power is restored. This
causes less stress to the power system and ensures that all customers get
restored without unnecessary delays. Customers may want to leave their
front porch light on so they will know when power is restored. When leaving
the home for an extended period, customers should switch off their power at
the main breaker.
Visit online for more information
For additional media materials, information about Tampa Electric's
storm plans, or to obtain one of Tampa Electric's storm season brochures,
visit http://www.tampaelectric.com. New this year, http://www.tampaelectric.com now
offers a "Weather Watch" section, including current weather information, an
emergency checklist, a downloadable storm brochure, storm preparedness
tips, useful weather links and more. From the homepage, simply click the
Weather Watch button.
Also available online is information on the Zap Cap System(R) for Home
or for Business, Tampa Electric's complete year-round surge suppressor
system for homes and businesses, to help protect sensitive electronics and
appliances from damaging, high-voltage surges.
Tampa Electric Company is the principal subsidiary of TECO Energy, Inc.
(NYSE: TE), an integrated energy-related holding company with core
businesses in the utility sector, complemented by a family of unregulated
businesses. Tampa Electric Company is a regulated utility with both
electric and gas divisions (Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas System). Other
subsidiaries are engaged in waterborne transportation, coal and synthetic
fuel production and independent power.
SOURCE TECO Energy, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.tecoenergy.com
http://www.tampaelectric.com
CONTACT:
Rick Morera of TECO Energy, Inc.,
+1-813-228-4945
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