Tampa Electric to Restore Power by Saturday night for Customers...

Tonight, 96 percent of Tampa Electric customers have power after Hurricane Helene.

About 35,000 customers remain without service, primarily due to wind damage from trees contacting overhead lines or storm surge damage. Severe flooding continues to make it difficult for our utility teams to safely reach certain areas to complete repairs, which will lead to some extended outages.

Nearly 250,000 Tampa Electric customers experienced power outages from the severe storm, with the number peaking at 100,000. With the resources the company has brought to bear, essentially all customers who can safely receive power will be restored by late Saturday.

"The crews worked incredibly hard since Hurricane Helene came through this area," said Archie Collins, president and chief executive officer of Tampa Electric. "With the support of utility workers from other states - and working closely with our community partners - this has been a safe and speedy restoration. We deeply appreciate the patience and understanding of our customers as we work around the clock to get power restored to everyone."

Tampa Electric reminds customers whose homes have suffered flood damage that their homes must be inspected by a building official before crews can restore electricity. Some customers with more complex damage may take additional time to restore.

For customers who are returning home after the risk of storm surge or flooding, there are a few important safety tips to follow. If you've turned off your electric breakers, make sure your electrical equipment is dry and undamaged before turning your breakers back on. Due to the risk of electrocution, do not touch a fuse or circuit breaker with wet hands, or while standing on wet or damp ground. Never touch damaged electrical equipment and hire a licensed electrician to make any necessary repairs. Visit TampaElectric.com/PowerRestoration then click on Damaged Meter Equipment to learn which equipment relies on Tampa Electric for repairs and when to call a licensed electrician.

Tampa Electric reminds customers to be safe after a storm:

• Stay out of floodwaters, as they can hide energized power lines or put you at risk of drowning.
• 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.

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.