Hurricane Season is Here – Make Sure You’re Prepared

As we mentioned a couple of months ago, it is important to make sure your phone numbers and addresses are listed correctly with the cooperative in order for us to restore power outages in the most efficient way possible. During hurricane season it is especially important for us to have the correct information on file. Here are some other things our insiders recommend to help get your lights back on quicker:

• Check your breaker panels before you contact us. Check both the main breaker on the inside panel and outside disconnect (older homes probably won’t have an outside disconnect). The outdoor disconnect will be located close to your electric meter. If the breaker is tripped, it will be stopped halfway between “off” and “on.” You’ll have to turn the breaker off first and then back on to reset it. If you still have power in part of your home, check the individual breakers in the panel. If you’re not sure how to reset a breaker, ask someone who knows to show you.
• If your power blinks a couple of times but comes back on, you don’t have to contact us. On the other hand, if you notice blinks over the course of several days, let us know so we can check our lines for problems.
• Make sure West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC) has your correct phone number on file. If the automated outage reporting system answers your call, enter the number listed or associated with your account – whether it is a land line or a cell phone number. If you call from a different number, the system won’t recognize this as your number. You will have the chance later in the process to leave a message if you so choose.
• Have a contingency plan in place for life-support patients. If there is catastrophic damage to our system or if main lines are damaged, it may take time to get your power restored. Consumers who rely on life-saving devices should make alternate arrangements to relocate or have a back-up power device on hand, such as a generator in case the power is out for several days. WFEC does not guarantee uninterrupted service or assign a priority status to members who depend on electrical equipment for a medical necessity and are on the medically essential service list. This list is only utilized to contact consumers when there is a planned outage to perform routine maintenance, upgrades or repairs. Even though we give these accounts special consideration in certain circumstances, we must still repair the damage to the backbone of our electric system before we can turn attention to individual accounts.

Once any severe weather or threats of severe weather have passed, and it is safe, WFEC crews begin restoring power to our members in a specific manner. Linemen repair the main circuit feeders leading out from the substations first. Then the first sets of breakers on a section of line are fixed. Each section is then energized before moving on to the next set of breakers – gradually working out to the single-phase taps. Therefore, the closer a home is to a substation, the sooner power will be restored to that particular home. PowerSouth is WFEC’s generation and transmission cooperative, so it is responsible for repairing any damage to the transmission lines leading into WFEC’s substations. If a Category Three storm or stronger hits our area, members should expect to be without power for several days. It is imperative that necessary hurricane precautions are taken in the event this happens. For more information about hurricane preparedness, visit www.myflorida.com.

It is also very important to keep abreast of the most current developments in regards to storms as well as power restoration efforts once a storm has run its course. The best ways to stay informed are to listen to a battery-operated radio or watch television. Checking online at the cooperative’s Web site (www.westflorida.coop) is also a great option if electricity or Internet service is available to you. Relatives from out of town or state could check the Web site for you. You could also follow the cooperative on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates. Simply search for West Florida Electric Cooperative and become a fan on Facebook or search for WFECA on Twitter and begin following us today. No matter the method you choose, staying up-to-date is very important to the safety of your family.