Tampa Electric is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Nicole and is prepared to respond to severe weather that may affect Florida. The company also encourages customers to plan ahead.
Tropical Storm Nicole is expected to reach hurricane strength later today and may bring strong winds and heavy rain to the Tampa Bay area Thursday. Tampa Electric customers could see severe weather, which may result in power outages.
Tampa Electric’s crews are prepared to work around the clock to restore power as quickly and safely as possible; they have ensured their trucks are fully stocked and they have appropriate supplies and equipment. The company is staging crews at strategic locations to respond as quickly as possible after the storm passes.
Customers may experience power outages. Tampa Electric offers customers several ways to report and monitor power outages:
- Log into your online account at tecoaccount.com/outage to report the outage with one click. Visit tampaelectric.com/outage and report your outage.
- Text OUT to 27079. Text UPDATE or STATUS for updates on your reported outage.
- Call 1-877-588-1010, Tampa Electric’s dedicated toll-free automated power outage phone system.
- Go to com/notifications and sign up for free outage notifications by text, email or phone calls.
- Visit our outage map at tampaelectric.com/outagemap to report and track outages. You can also get restoration status.
Tampa Electric also will use Facebook facebook.com/tampaelectric and Twitter @tampaelectric to keep customers informed about outage restoration.
Tampa Electric encourages all customers to have a personal storm plan in place for their home or business. Visit tampaelectric.com/storm for tips, restoration information and additional guidance. Visit your county’s emergency management website to determine your flood zone, your hurricane evacuation zone, get flood depth data, flood insurance information, or help with property flood protection for residents.
Tampa Electric reminds customers to be safe after a storm:
- Remember to keep away from downed power lines and urge others to be extremely cautious.
- Remember to use portable generators safely. Plug your appliances directly into the generator. DO NOT connect your portable generator into your home’s circuits. Connecting your generator to the circuits may cause power to flow to outside lines, posing life-threatening danger to restoration crews.
- Portable generators must not be taken into homes or any enclosed space (like a garage) where deadly carbon monoxide gases could build up.
- Stay out of floodwaters, as they can hide energized power lines or put you at risk of drowning.
Tampa Electric, one of Florida’s largest investor-owned electric utilities, serves more than 800,000 customers in West Central Florida. Tampa Electric is a subsidiary of Emera Inc., a geographically diverse energy and services company headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
