ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Progress Energy Florida crews continue to restore power to customers in the aftermath of devastating storms that moved across Florida early Friday.
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As of 6 p.m., crews had restored power to nearly 36,000 customers. About 7,500 customers remain without service, primarily in Deland and Lady Lake in Volusia and Lake counties, respectively.
More than 200 line crew employees from across Progress Energy Florida's service territory and 35 contractors from Jacksonville, Fla., were mobilized earlier today to work in the hardest hit areas in Central Florida.
The company estimates that the majority of outages will be restored by midnight Friday.
Crews continue to work closely with public safety agencies to assess damage, clear debris and safely restore power to those affected. Employees are also supporting local emergency operations centers in Volusia, Lake and Sumter counties that were activated after the storm.
"We appreciate our customer's patience as our crews have worked diligently to rebuild our system in the aftermath of this devastating and destructive storm system," said Jeffrey Corbett, senior vice president of Energy Delivery for Progress Energy Florida. "We have the crews and resources in place to restore service to all of our customers who are capable of receiving it."
Customers are encouraged to follow these tips in the storm's aftermath:
* 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.
* Don't go sightseeing in your car during or after a storm. Unnecessary
vehicles on the road hinder crews from conducting vital damage
assessment and restoration work. Needless driving also increases the
risk of coming into contact with downed power lines, which may be
energized.
* 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. By calling this number, customers can obtain the same information available from our customer service associates. 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.
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 , provides electricity and related services to nearly 1.7 million customers in Florida. The company is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Fla., and serves a territory encompassing more than 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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