Tampa Electric crews working to restore power after a storm.
We are closely monitoring the impacts of Hurricane Ian. Tampa Electric prepares year-round for severe weather and stands ready to respond to potential damage or impacts from the storm. As always, our top priority is the safety of all customers and employees. We’ve put together a comprehensive list of resources on our Storm Center to help.
While we anticipate widespread, extended power outages due to Hurricane Ian, we have plans in place to restore power as quickly as we can. There are thousands of workers, including line crews, tree trimmers and damage assessors from other states ready to help. They will be in a safe location nearby to help Tampa Electric restore power after the storm passes. Tampa Electric is a member of the Southeastern Electric Exchange, or SEE, which is a network of utilities that pledge mutual assistance in case of storm or other emergencies.
Our goal after any severe storm is to restore power to the largest number of customers in the shortest possible time. We work to restore outages during the storm, until the winds reach above 35 mph and it is no longer safe to do so. Our crews shelter in place at that point. When it is safe to do so, we will immediately assess the damage from the storm and begin restoration. Tampa Electric’s crews, along with the additional line and tree workers from other utilities, are prepared to work around the clock.
Hurricane Ian: Priority Restoration
When large areas lose power, especially if severe weather is ongoing, we take a priority restoration approach to restoring service. Here's how it works:
- Electric service is restored to critical services facilities first – hospitals, disaster centers and main police and fire stations. This enables these places to help with other storm-related problems or injuries.
- Water and sewer installations are next.
- After that, we focus on communication service providers and facilities providing important public services such as supermarkets, home improvement/building supply centers, insurance facilities, etc.
- Then we repair electrical circuits that provide power to the largest group of customers, followed by the remainder of the circuits until the power is back on for all our customers.
It's possible that your neighbors' power may come back on while yours is still out. Because of the widespread damage a storm can cause, crews might need to make repairs at multiple spots along a single electric service line. As repairs are completed, some customers may receive power while others may still be out of service. Sometimes, different customers have different service lines, even within the same neighborhood. If you are on the same service line as your neighbor, you may also have damage to your meter that is interrupting electric service to your home.
How to report a power outage
We recommend taking the following steps ahead of the storm:
- Ensure you are registered at tecoaccount.com and we have your updated contact information. That way our outage reporting system can immediately recognize your number when you call or text.
- While our new smart meters will likely recognize your outage automatically, you can also report your outage via any of these convenient ways:
- Log in to tecoaccount.com, and report your outage with one click.
- Report your outage online at tampaelectric.com/outage using your phone number or account number.
- *Text OUT to 27079.
- Call 877-588-1010.
*For new registrations, please have your 12-digit account number and 5-digit zip code available.
Additional Safety Information
- Remember to keep away from downed power lines and urge others to be extremely cautious.
- Smell gas? Act fast. The odor of rotten eggs is an indicator that a natural gas line might be damaged. Immediately move to safety and call 911, then call Peoples Gas at 877-832-6747. Emergency calls are answered 24/7/365.
- 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.
- Never use a wet electrical device. Turn off your power at the main breaker if a device that is wet is plugged in. Wait for an electrician to check the device before using it.
- Be cautious when outside as tree limbs may have become loose and could fall without warning.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Nextdoor throughout the coming days as we all carefully watch this storm.
Rest assured, we’re committed to helping you stay safe and quickly restore service.
