Tampa Electric is Prepared to Handle Severe Weather from Helene

About 3,500 utility workers arriving to help

Tampa Electric is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Helene and is prepared to respond to severe weather that may affect West Central Florida. The company also encourages customers to plan ahead.

The tropical storm has the potential to become a major hurricane, with life-threatening storm surge, heavy rain and damaging winds that could affect the entire Tampa Bay area starting Thursday. Tampa Electric customers should expect and prepare for severe weather, which may result in significant, extended power outages.

Tampa Electric's crews are prepared to work around the clock to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. Nearly 3,000 line workers and tree trimmers are traveling to Florida to join the 600 workers already here. They will stage in the Orlando area Wednesday until the storm has passed and will then move to five base camps, which will house and feed the utility crews while they help to restore power.

Customers may experience power outages. Tampa Electric offers customers several ways to report and monitor power outages:

• Log into your online account at TecoAccount.com to report the outage with one click. Visit TampaElectric.com/Outage and report your outage and get restoration status.
• Text OUT to 27079. Text UPDATE or STATUS for updates on your reported outage.
• Call 1-877-588-1010, Tampa Electric's dedicated toll-free automated power outage phone system.
• Go to TecoAccount.com/Notifications and sign up for free outage notifications by text, email or phone calls.

Tampa Electric also will use Facebook facebook.com/tampaelectric and X (formerly known as Twitter) @tampaelectric to keep customers informed about outage restoration.

Tampa Electric is urging all customers to complete their personal storm preparations for their home or business now. Visit TampaElectric.com/storm for tips, restoration information and additional guidance. Customers in low-lying or evacuation zones are especially urged to evacuate if directed to do so by local officials. Visit your county's emergency management website to determine your flood zone, your hurricane evacuation zone, get flood depth data, flood insurance information, or help with property flood protection for residents.

Tampa Electric reminds 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 asks for your patience as crews assess damage and prioritize restoration efforts in the aftermath of this potentially dangerous storm.

Tampa Electric, one of Florida's largest investor-owned electric utilities, serves more than 840,000 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.

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