Planning, communication, mobilization helped speed restoration
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., June 13 /PRNewswire/ -- In the first named storm
of the 2006 hurricane season, Progress Energy Florida is working to restore
power to all customers affected by Tropical Storm Alberto. At its peak
across the state, the storm caused about 15,841 customers to lose power. At
5 p.m. Tuesday, 2,800 customers remained without power, and the company
anticipates all of them will be restored today.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020923/CHM008LOGO-c)
"Our company's preparation and planning for Tropical Storm Alberto
worked, as well as our coordination with local communities," said Jeff
Lyash, president and chief executive officer of Progress Energy Florida.
"This was also a great reminder for our customers to make sure they're
prepared for the rest of hurricane season."
Progress Energy Florida began tracking Alberto last week and activated
its comprehensive storm plan during the weekend. On Monday, the utility
mobilized about 200 line and tree workers to Central Florida and the
Panhandle in preparation for the storm's landfall.
Progress Energy began experiencing storm related outages at noon
Sunday. As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, more than 108,000 customers had been impacted
throughout the duration of the storm. Because of advanced preparation and
planning -- including crew and resource mobilization -- the company was
able to quickly restore power on Monday and Tuesday and to minimize
customer outage times.
Customers who have experienced electrical damage to their home -- such
as damage to a weatherhead or meter base -- and are in need of a reputable
electrician, may contact Progress Energy for a referral through its
Electrical Contractor Network (ECN). Interested customers should call
888-999-8856 and select option No. 2. Each contractor dispatched must meet
certain criteria, such as passing a professional and personal background
check, meeting insurance and licensing requirements, carrying photo ID in
the field, and be trained in safety.
Progress Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN),
provides electricity and related services to more than 1.6 million
customers in Florida. The company is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Fla.,
and serves a territory encompassing over 20,000 square miles including the
cities of St. Petersburg and Clearwater, as well as the Central Florida
area surrounding Orlando. Progress Energy is the 2005 recipient of the
prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder's Award for dedication,
commitment and sustained improvement in customer service. For more
information about Progress Energy, visit the company's Web site at
http://www.progress-energy.com.
SOURCE Progress Energy
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Related links:
http://www.progress-energy.com
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CONTACT:
Media contact, Progress Energy Florida
24-hour media line, +1-866-520-6397
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