ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Aug. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Progress Energy Florida continues to closely monitor Tropical Storm Ernesto and is prepared for any effects the storm may have on its 35-county service territory.
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"We are continuously monitoring the storm's track and are mobilizing resources based on current projections," said David McDonald, Progress Energy Florida's system storm coordinator. "We are positioning supplies and resources needed to restore power as quickly and as safely as possible."
The company has mobilized and secured resources as the storm approaches the state. In addition, the company has activated its system storm center and is preparing vehicles and equipment, and confirming availability of supplies such as fuel.
"Based on the storms current projections, we expect Ernesto to begin affecting our the southern parts of our territory, including Highlands County, beginning mid-day Wednesday and exiting our northern regions by midnight Thursday," said McDonald. "With these projections we are staging crews throughout these areas."
Progress Energy Florida has taken aggressive steps to strengthen the electric system that serves its customers, including significantly increasing the number of pole replacements and targeting high-risk areas for increased tree trimming. The company also continually improves its communications with local governments.
"We will have the necessary crews on the ground Wednesday ready to restore power as necessary," said McDonald.
The quickest way to report an outage during a storm is to call Progress Energy's automated outage-reporting system at (800) 228-8485 in Florida. After severe weather, Progress Energy takes specific steps to restore power. Progress Energy crews first assess damage and determine what crews, equipment and supplies will be needed to make repairs. After a storm, the company makes repairs to the largest facilities first, as well as hospitals, public safety facilities and other community facilities. Focusing on transmission lines and substations first helps to ensure that power is restored as quickly as possible to the most customers.
Progress Energy Florida offers these safety tips to prepare for a storm and deal safely with its effects:
- To prepare for outages, have plenty of fresh batteries for flashlights
and radios.
- If rising water threatens your home, turn off the power at the circuit
breaker panel or fuse box before water enters your home. Have an
electrician inspect your system before turning the power back on after
flooding.
- Never replace a fuse or touch a circuit breaker with wet hands, or
while standing on a wet or damp surface.
- When using a gasoline-powered electric generator, operate it in well-
ventilated areas and only connect it to individual appliances.
Connecting a generator to a wall outlet in your home or building's
electrical system is dangerous for customers and line crews working to
restore power. Never operate a generator indoors as carbon monoxide
buildup can be fatal.
- Assume all downed power lines are live and stay away from them. If you
see a downed power line, call PEF at 800-228-8485 to report its
location.
- PEF customers who lose power should call the 24-hour automated outage
line at 800-228-8485. It is the fastest way to report a power outage,
and even offers an option to call customers back if updates are
available on when power will be restored. This state-of-the-art
technology is capable of handling more than 125,000 calls per hour
during widespread outages. By calling this number, customers can obtain
the same information available from our customer service associates.
- Customers who have experienced electrical damage to their home -- such
as damage to a weatherhead or meter base -- and are in need a reputable
electrician, may contact Progress Energy for referral through its
Electrical Contractor Network (ECN). Customers can call 1-888-999-8856
and select option #2. Contractors 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.
- For additional storm-safety tips, visit progress-energy.com/storm.
Progress Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Progress Energy , 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 2006 recipient of the Edison Electric Institute's Edison Award, the industry's highest honor, in recognition of its operational excellence. In 2005, the company also received 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/.
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