North Fort Myers, FL, September 24, 2024 – LCEC is monitoring Helene and encourages members to remain calm. Should scattered outages occur, LCEC has a strong restoration plan in place to reenergize members as quickly and safely as possible.
LCEC is currently in full storm prep mode, making comprehensive arrangements to mitigate the impact of potential power outages. Key measures include:
- Securing out-of-state line contractors and vegetation crews to work alongside LCEC.
- Collaborating closely with Florida Electric Cooperatives Association (FECA) in Tallahassee for coordinated support.
- Field personnel are on standby, ready to work 12-hour staggered shifts for quick response around the clock until power is fully restored.
- More than 450 LCEC employees are vital to the restoration plan, playing critical roles across all operations.
- LCEC has secured a contract with a fuel vendor to ensure vehicles and equipment remain fully fueled and operational throughout the storm response.
What Members Can Expect:
LCEC does not disconnect power before a storm. Instead, LCEC lets nature take its course and begins restoring power once winds reach safe levels. In the case of widespread outages, LCEC follows a detailed restoration plan:
- Restoration of essential services such as hospitals, law enforcement, shelters, and traffic signals.
- Restoring power to the largest number of customers.
- Reconnecting individual services, including homes that require electrical system repairs.
Member Preparedness:
LCEC advises to take the following steps to prepare for potential power outages:
- Ensure you have a battery-powered radio with fresh batteries for important news and information.
- Safely operate any generators if planning to use one during an outage.
- Review the LCEC Hurricane Guide for more information and storm preparedness tips by visiting the LCEC Storm Center at https://www.lcec.net/reliability/storm-center.