Q. Why can’t you tell me what area you are working on?
A. In normal operations, Tampa Electric utilizes a system that allows us to determine where outages are located and dispatch crews to restore the service. Updated mobile computers allow these troublemen to tap the streaming information. However, during and after severe weather, the two-way communications are not always available. Also, out-of-state utilities that assist with our restoration efforts do not have access to the same communications devices that we use to pinpoint the location of the outages.
Therefore, the company relies on paper circuit and transmission maps. As the crews return at the end of their shifts, they share the updates. With a widespread storm restoration effort, it takes several hours to complete the manual updates.
