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Tag: Central Florida power outage

SECO’s System 99.9% Recovered After Hurricane Irma

SECO Energy completed the final stage of its Hurricane Irma restoration effort on Sunday. At the end of Sunday, the not-for-profit electric cooperative completed power restoration for 99.9 percent of all members affected by Hurricane Irma.

 

SECO’s infrastructure suffered significant damage as Hurricane Irma traveled directly through its service territory with winds that ranged from a Category 1 to a Category 3 hurricane, per data from the National Hurricane Center. Power outages began Sunday evening, September 10, as Irma’s tropical-storm-force winds entered Central Florida. Members continued to lose power throughout Sunday night and Monday morning when winds increased to hurricane-force speeds. When winds subsided, more than half of SECO’s system was down and more than half of the cooperative’s members were without power.

 

Restoration began on Monday, September 11, at noon. More than 1,200 SECO crews and line/tree contractors were deployed in full force throughout the system over the next six days to restore power. At the end of the day on Sunday, September 17, SECO’s system was more than 99.9% restored. Only about 70 accounts in South Sumter County are unable to receive electric service at this time due to high water.

 

The damage to SECO’s system from Hurricane Irma was much more significant than even the damage from the 2004 hurricanes. The damage and disruptions from Hurricane Irma, were unprecedented in SECO’s service territory and across the state.

 

Today, line and tree trimming contractors are preparing to return home. If a member experiences a new outage, it should be reported at Storm Center using the last name and house number.

 

For SECO members who were without power, it was a long week. SECO Energy thanks them for their patience and understanding as crews worked to bring substations back online, rebuild feeder lines, replace thousands of broken poles and clear trees from infrastructure. Most important, the company is overwhelmed by and grateful for the thoughtful outreach by hundreds of members across the service area. Citizens brought pizza, sandwiches, cookies, goodie bags and more to the crews in the field and employees in our locations. Members sent notes of encouragement and posted signs of gratitude along the roads.

 

SECO members are still facing the after effects of Hurricane Irma. A colossal amount of tree branches, trunks and debris remains on the ground and near roadways. Members should call the county where they reside and ask for the debris to be removed. For members who have damage to their homes or property, please call your homeowners’ insurance carrier, county emergency services or FEMA. If you need financial assistance with everyday living expenses due to the hardship of Hurricane Irma, please contact Florida 2-1-1.

 

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO is dedicated to being our members’ first source for accurate storm information. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” the company on Twitter to stay updated about storms affecting our area.

Hurricane Recovery Begins in Central Florida

Overnight, SECO’s service territory suffered significant damage from Irma’s hurricane-force winds. More than 110,000 members are without power. Statewide, nearly 7 million people – nearly 60 percent of Florida – do not have power. SECO members struggled today to report outages because Century Link phone lines are down and SECO’s online Storm Center platform has been inundated with more than a million hits since 5 am. SECO asks that members who have already reported an outage refrain from reporting it again.

 

High wind gusts continue to hamper restoration efforts across the counties we serve. Restoration began around noon today with tree contractors and line crews paired together for the daunting work of clearing limbs and fallen trees before electric equipment repair/replacement can take place. The outages affect 100 of our 197 feeders, so half of SECO’s electric system is disabled. Eight SECO substations are completely out due to transmission outages – including six Duke Energy transmission outages, one City of Ocala transmission outage, and one SECO-owned transmission outage.

 

SECO CEO Jim Duncan stated, “SECO has developed a priority restoration plan and has deployed local crews and outside resources in Marion, Lake, Sumter and Citrus counties. Per Florida regulatory requirements, substations and feeders with hospitals, shelters, schools and government agencies are the highest priority. The next priority is to restore power to large groups of members, and then to less populated areas with individual electric services.” The company anticipates that up to 25,000 members’ service could be restored in the first 24 hours of restoration, and crews will continue to work round the clock until all service is restored.

 

Though SECO staged hundreds of contract line and tree crew members in advance along with heavy equipment, more manpower is needed based on the significant damage. The company is working to secure additional resources. Fuel is in very short supply, and SECO is working with Governor Scott’s office to secure tankers of diesel and unleaded fuel. Transportation is also challenging with trees and lines down. Restoration may take days or even weeks, dependent on manpower and fuel.

 

Seek shelter if you or your loved ones need power to run life-saving medical devices. Floridians can access www.floridadisaster.org/shelters for shelter information by county, including general population shelters, pet-friendly shelters and special needs shelters.

 

If you are using a portable or backup generator, never let it run in enclosed spaces. Generators emit carbon monoxide gas that is a silent, odorless killer. Ensure these are connected correctly. Do not tamper with a meter to connect a generator as this requires a licensed electrician. Safety tips and storm preparation tips are available on SECO’s website.

 

To avoid scams and dangers, do not accept restoration or tree trimming assistance from someone who is asking for payment on the spot and is not a SECO employee or contractor. Under no circumstances would SECO ask for payment in the field during a restoration event. Do not attempt to reconnect services yourself.

 

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO is dedicated to being our members’ first source for accurate storm information. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” the company on Twitter to stay updated about storms affecting our area.