TECO Aims to Restore Power for Most Tampa Bay Customers by Thursday

In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, Tampa Electric Co. (TECO) is working diligently to restore power to the thousands of customers affected in the Tampa Bay area. As of Saturday, TECO announced that it aims to restore power for “essentially all” customers in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties by Thursday.

Despite the challenging conditions, TECO and its contractors have been making significant progress. Crews have been operating from various locations, including Raymond James Stadium, to coordinate their efforts. Justen Fisher, a contractor working under TECO, highlighted the community’s resilience and generosity, even in the face of devastation. “It’s humbling to see a tree through somebody’s house and they’re coming out to you, offering you food and snacks and water when they got a tree ripping through their house,” he said.

The restoration process is phased, with priority given to essential services such as hospitals, airports, police stations, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes. By Sunday, TECO expects to have power restored to 55% of customers in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, increasing to 75% by Tuesday. In Pasco County, power is expected to be fully restored by Monday, and in Polk County by Tuesday.

The widespread outages were primarily caused by uprooted trees and storm debris that damaged overhead power lines and poles. Flooding of electrical infrastructure and debris on transmission lines also contributed to the power disruptions. The saturated ground from Hurricane Helene exacerbated the damage from Hurricane Milton’s winds.

While many residents are frustrated with the pace of restoration, TECO’s president and CEO, Archie Collins, assured customers that their power will be restored within a week, if not sooner. The company has deployed 1,500 workers, who are now using mobile sleep units to facilitate their work.

Community concerns and frustrations are evident, with some residents expressing dissatisfaction over the uneven distribution of power restoration, particularly in areas like South Tampa. However, TECO and other utility companies are working tirelessly to address these issues and restore power as quickly and safely as possible.