Tropical Storm Isaac - Power Companies - WMBB News 13 - The Panhandle's News Leader

Tropical Storm Isaac - Power Companies

Energy company updates for Tropical Storm Isaac

Gulf Power

Hundreds of crews from Gulf Power Company's sister companies, which include Alabama Power, Mississippi Power and Georgia Power, are at the ready to mobilize to Northwest Florida to help restore electric service should Isaac make landfall here.

In addition, almost a thousand workers from neighboring utilities also have been recruited.

"We can always count on the strength of Southern Company to bolster our power restoration efforts," said Jeff Rogers with Gulf Power. "We're prepared for widespread power outages if Isaac makes landfall anywhere in our service area, and it's great to have the experienced crews from our sister companies on standby to help."

If Isaac should make landfall further to the west and Northwest Florida has minimum impact from the storm, Gulf Power and Southern Company will assist utilities in those areas. 

While it's too soon to know where Isaac will make landfall, Gulf Power is preparing as if the looming storm will make a direct hit and asks that its customers be prepared as well. Rogers said a direct hit by a category three hurricane could mean power outages of up to two weeks for the hardest hit areas.

"We're prepared and every Gulf Power employee has a special storm assignment which helps us restore power as quickly and safely as possible," said Rogers. "If Isaac does indeed make landfall in Northwest Florida, we ask our customers to be prepared for widespread, lengthy outages.

The company's preparations include making arrangements with vendors to bring in large inventories of poles, wires, transformers and other equipment; planning to set up staging sites where workers can sleep, eat, wash their clothes, refuel their trucks and have tools repaired and making sure aircraft will be available to perform damage assessments immediately after the storm.

"Should we be impacted by the storm, we thank our customers in advance for their patience as our crews work hard to restore everyone's power," Rogers said. "Our crews have kept sharp assisting other utilities throughout the year, so we're ready to get out there and make a difference."

Customers can follow updates on Gulf Power's Facebook page or Twitter feed: www.facebook.com/gulfpowercompany or www.twitter.com/gulfpower. Customers can also report outages on their mobile phone at www.gulfpower.com. Just click the "Log In" button in the "My Account" box.

The Gulf Power Storm Center website covers such subjects as Preparation and Safety, Restoration Process, Meter Box Damage, Generator Safety, Power Outage FAQs and General Storm Tips.

Here are some power line and generator safety tips from the Gulf Power Storm Center site: 

• Treat any downed wire as if it is energized. You can't tell by looking if a downed wire is live or not. Telephone or cable television wires that are touching a power line could become energized and should also be avoided. Notify Gulf Power, your local emergency agency, or call 911 to report the location of any downed lines.
  
  
• Don't attempt to repair the electrical system or pull tree limbs off lines. Let trained work crews perform this potentially dangerous work.
  
  
• Stay clear of areas with substantial debris or downed trees because it could conceal an energized power line. Also stay clear of chain link fences which may be energized if touching a downed line.
  
  
• Wait a reasonable time before calling Gulf Power if your entire neighborhood is without power.
  
  
• If you have an electric generator, please ensure that you have isolated your home or business from the utility electrical service lines by opening main breakers or other devices.
  
  
• Do not connect portable generators to your household electrical wiring. This can cause serious injury to you and to Gulf Power employees working on the lines in your neighborhood.
  
  
• Connect only essential appliances — such as freezers and refrigerators — directly to the generator.
  
  
• NEVER use a generator in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces. Generators can produce high levels of carbon monoxide very quickly. When you use a portable generator, remember that you cannot smell or see carbon monoxide.
  
  
• NEVER try to power the house wiring by plugging the generator into a wall outlet, a practice known as "back-feeding." This is an extremely dangerous practice that presents an electrocution risk to utility workers and neighbors served by the same utility transformer. It also bypasses some of the built-in household circuit-protection devices.

Here are some more storm tips from the Gulf Power Storm Center site:

• Turn your air conditioning down to cool down your house before the storm. If you keep the doors and windows closed you can keep your house relatively cool for about 48 hours after the storm.
• Charge your cell phone before the storm — and anything else that needs to be charged.
• Keep freezer doors closed and sealed. Well-filled freezers keep most foods frozen two to three days if the door is kept closed.
• Be prepared to disconnect or shut off any appliances that will turn on automatically when power is restored. When power is restored, appliances may overload your circuits or pose fire hazards.
• Leave a porch light switched on so that utility crews will be able to determine immediately the success of specific repairs.

Log on to gulfpower.com for more information on storm safety. 

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Gulf Coast Electric Co-Op

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative members may request a free inspection of their generator installation to make sure it is safe.

You know never to touch a downed power line. But if you use a home generator, and if it connects to the wiring in your home or business, be sure it has a double-pole, double-throw switch. The switch keeps the generator's electricity from flowing back onto the power lines, endangering line workers.

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative is dedicated to keeping your electric service reliable and safe. Please, do your part to keep yourself and others safe.

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Progress Energy

This weekend, crews will be traveling to staging sites across the areas expected to be affected by the storm. The storm is currently forecast to make landfall early next week, possibly as a hurricane, along the northern Gulf Coast. Winds and rains may impact the entire Gulf Coast of Florida starting as early as Sunday evening.

"We are prepared to respond to potential power outages caused by Tropical Storm Isaac," said Jason Cutliffe, storm director for Progress Energy Florida. "We make continual improvements to our power restoration efforts based on the lessons we have learned from other storms such as Tropical Storm Debby back in June. Now we are able to leverage Duke Energy's experience as well."

Progress Energy recently merged with Duke Energy to become the largest electric company in the country. The combined company expands the utility's ability to quickly plan and decisively respond to major storms such as this. The company's storm plan includes mobilizing employees to handle increased customer calls, quickly evaluate storm damage, coordinate line crew and equipment mobilization, coordinate materials required for repairs, and arrange meals and lodging for out-of-town workers.

After severe weather, Progress Energy Florida takes specific steps to restore power. Crews first assess damage and determine what personnel, equipment and supplies will be needed to make repairs.

With the Republican National Convention (RNC) beginning Sunday in the Tampa Bay area, Progress Energy Florida is coordinating with the Secret Service, local emergency management organizations, and others to help monitor the event that is bringing more than 50,000 visitors to the area.

In the event the storm interrupts service, customers can call Progress Energy Florida's automated outage reporting line at 1.800.228.8485. The automated outage reporting system is capable of handling more than 120,000 calls per hour.

In addition to its automated outage reporting phone line, the utility has online resources to allow customers to report outages using computers and compatible mobile devices.

Progress Energy encourages customers interested in using mobile devices or computers to report outages to register before a storm hits. Customers will need their account number, located on their bill, to register. For information on all of the utility's outage reporting options, visit progress-energy.com/storm.

To keep customers informed following a storm, the company has developed an online outage map showing up-to-date information about current outages and estimated restoration times. The outage map can be viewed at www.progress-energy.com/outagemap.

Progress Energy Florida also sends updates on storm-related outage restorations via Twitter and Facebook. Customers can follow the utility at www.twitter.com/ProgEnergyFL and www.facebook.com/ProgressEnergyFlorida.

Progress Energy Florida offers the following storm safety tips:

When the storm threatens

Progress Energy Florida has a storm information website for customers. The site, www.progress- energy.com/storm, has information for customers on how to prepare for major storms and what they can do if a power outage occurs as a result of a storm. Customers should log on before the storm hits and print information they can reference during the storm.

Check supplies and make sure you have the following items: portable radio with fresh batteries, flashlights, first-aid kit, canned or packaged food that can be prepared without cooking or refrigeration, several days' supply of drinking water (one gallon per person, per day), a full tank of gas in your car and cash.

Unplug major non-vital appliances. Advanced surge-protection systems will protect your home from most power surges, but will not prevent damage from a direct lightning strike.

Pay attention to local television and radio broadcasts for storm position, intensity and expected landfall.

Prepare for high winds by boarding up windows and other glass, anchoring objects outside and bracing garage door.

Secure boats and trailers on land and check mooring lines of boats in the water. Put important papers in watertight containers (take them if you evacuate) and move valuables to upper stories of your home.

Fill your bathtub with water for sanitary purposes. Because water conducts electricity, it is not safe to run water during a storm.

If you know someone who relies on electric-powered life-support equipment, be prepared to move that person to a facility outside of the storm's projected path to avoid the risk of an extended power outage.

When the storm hits

Stay indoors in an inside room away from doors and windows, electrical outlets and water pipes. Don't go out in the brief calm during the eye of the storm.

Keep television and radio tuned for information from official sources. Be prepared to evacuate at a moment's notice.

If you evacuate, shut off gas, water and electricity (electricity can be shut off at the breaker box). Take blankets, first-aid supplies and other essential items with you to the nearest shelter. After the storm has passed

Never go near downed power lines. Always assume they are energized and extremely dangerous. If someone suffers an electric shock, call 911 or your local rescue squad immediately. Even minor shocks may cause serious health problems later.

Check for electrical damage inside your home, such as frayed wires, sparks or the smell of burning insulation. If you find damage, don't turn your power on until an electrician inspects your system and makes necessary repairs.

Walk and drive cautiously. Watch out for debris-filled streets and weakened bridges. Snakes and insects can be a problem after storms.

Use your emergency water supply or boil water before drinking it until local officials deem the water supply safe. Report broken sewer or water mains.

Make temporary repairs to protect property from further damage or looting. Beware of unscrupulous contractors. If the power goes out

Call Progress Energy Florida at (800) 228-8485 to report a power outage. You can expedite the process by using this automated outage reporting system. Entering your phone number or Progress Energy account number in the system ensures that we know about your outage and will capture that information in the company's restoration plans. Once restoration time estimates are developed, those estimates will also be available to you through the automated system.

Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Food usually stays frozen about 48 hours. A refrigerator can keep food cold for about four hours. Remember, when in doubt, throw it out.

Do not connect a generator directly to your home's electrical system. It is dangerous to you, your neighbors and utility workers. Follow manufacturer's directions regarding connecting appliances directly to your generator.

In any power outage, utility crews restore service as quickly as possible, starting with the largest lines serving the most people.

For additional storm information and safety tips, visit www.progress-energy.com/storm

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West Florida Electric Co-Op

West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC) crews and service center personnel are prepared to make repairs and restore power should members experience power outages due to Tropical Storm Isaac.

In the event of widespread outages, West Florida Electric will activate its automated outage response phone system to process information from customers as efficiently as possible. Because the system uses telephone numbers to locate outages, customers calling to report an outage from a phone number other than the one listed in their West Florida electric account records should enter the correct phone number when prompted. This includes callers using cell phones. It is very important that WFEC has the correct phone number on file for your account. Make sure your number is updated by visiting www.westflorida.coop and clicking on the View Account button at the top of the home page. West Florida Electric customers may report electric service problems or downed power lines by calling (850)263-3231 or (800) 342-7400. Members may also monitor outages online by visiting www.westflorida.coop and clicking on the outage map, following us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/wfeca) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/wfeca).

If you require uninterrupted power to operate vital medical equipment or other critical devices, please make arrangements to relocate or have an auxiliary power source available. For life-threatening emergencies please call 911.