Tropical Storm Debby and your electricity

We are closely monitoring Tropical Storm Debby. Tampa Electric prepares year-round for severe weather and stands ready to respond to potential impacts to our area. Your safety is our priority, which is why we put together a comprehensive list of safety tips and resources on our Storm Center to help you prepare. You should also:

• Monitor news and weather sources for storm updates.
• Check Preparing for the Hurricane Season for emergency preparation information, such as tips on packing your hurricane preparedness kit, confirming your evacuation zone and the location of shelters.
• If you are caring for someone elderly or a person with special medical needs, consider making plans for them in case of extended power outages.

While we work hard to deliver reliable, always on electric service and can often restore power quickly, extended outages can occur if we are impacted by strong winds or floodwaters.

Priority Restoration

Here's the restoration process we follow if a storm causes multiple outages.

• 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.

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 , 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.

Stay Safe

• As always, our top priority is the safety of customers and employees. For tips, visit TampaElectric.com/StormSafety.
• Always assume that downed power lines are energized. If you encounter a downed line, stay away and call 911, then call us immediately at 877-588-1010.
• Never drive over downed power lines or touch power lines, including anyone or anything touching the line. This includes a fence or other object the line may fall onto. Warn others to stay away.
• Remember to use portable generators safely.
  • DO NOT connect a portable generator to home circuits and be sure to plug appliances directly into the generator. Connecting a generator to home circuits may cause power to flow to outside lines, posing life-threatening danger to our lineworkers. If you are unsure, please consult with a licensed electrician.
  • Never allow a portable generator to get wet or operate in or near the rain. Generators are designed to produce powerful voltage and if moisture enters it, an electrocution or explosion may result.
  • DO NOT take portable generators into a residence or any enclosed space (including closed garages) where deadly carbon monoxide gases could build up.
• Be cautious when outside as tree limbs may have become loose and could fall without warning.
• Stay out of floodwaters. Always avoid driving or walking through flood waters - they may be energized with electrical current and create hazardous conditions.
• Beware of gas leaks. The odor of rotten eggs is an indicator that a natural gas line might be damaged. If you smell gas, immediately move to safety and call 911, then call Peoples Gas at 877-832-6747. Learn more at PeoplesGas.com/Safety.
• Avoid scams. Scammers know we're distracted by a storm. Scammers can easily create new domains and use other tactics, like spoofing our phone number and posing as one of our TECO team members. Visit TampaElectric.com/Scam to learn more and report a scam.

Get important storm safety tips and updates. Follow us on our social channels listed at TampaElectric.com/Social.

We're committed to helping you stay safe and quickly restore service.

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