Tampa Electric is closely monitoring Hurricane Eta and is prepared to respond to severe weather that is expected to affect Florida.
Hurricane Eta is expected to bring rain and heavy winds to Florida over the next two days, even as the storm downgrades to a tropical storm. 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. The company will remain in contact with local and state officials throughout the storm.
Tampa Electric offers customers several ways to report power outages:
- Residential and commercial customers are encouraged to call Tampa Electric’s dedicated toll-free automated power outage phone system at 1-877-588-1010 to report a power outage or electric emergency.
- In addition to the automated outage reporting system, customers can report outages online at tampaelectric.com/outages or by texting OUT to 27079.
- Or log in to www.tecoaccount.com and report your outage with one click.
Customers can monitor and track outages in their neighborhoods through the outage map at tampaelectric.com/outagemap. The map displays the cause, status and estimated restoration time. Tampa Electric also will use Twitter @tampaelectric and Facebook facebook.com/tampaelectric to keep customers informed about outage restoration.
The company also recommends that customers have a storm plan in place for their homes or businesses. Tampa Electric would like to remind 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 about 780,000 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.
