PRECO Power Restoration Frequently Asked Questions

Posted: September 13, 2017 at 7:00 am

In the wake of Hurricane Irma, Peace River Electric Cooperative (PRECO) is working diligently to restore power to homes and businesses in its 10-county service area. PRECO line workers, together with workers on loan from Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Georgia, are working to bring as many electric services online as possible.

To help PRECO consumers with their questions regarding power restoration, the cooperative has prepared a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

Why does my neighbor have electricity and I don’t?

It is frustrating to sit in the dark, while lights shine at your neighbor’s house and the power system around you appears to be undamaged. There are a host of possible causes for one home having power while a neighboring one does not, including:

  • Homes are on different circuits.
  • The transformer that serves your property has internal damage.
  • The service wire to your home is damaged.

Our crews will continue working street by street and house by house until everyone has power.

What if I have a medical issue?

We understand the stress this outage is causing, especially for members who face medical challenges. We are working at a feverish pace to restore power to everyone, but cannot give you a specific timeline for when you will have power. If you are dependent on electric-powered medical equipment and do not have a power backup system, please consider relocating.

What if I have a power line down?

We care about your safety. Please call us at 1-800-282-3824 with the exact location of the downed line. We will get a crew to you as soon as possible. In the meantime, please do not risk your life by moving lines or vegetation entangled in lines.

When will my power come back on?

Everyone wants to know when their power will come back on. We don’t want to mislead you by guessing. The damage is extensive. It is like peeling back the layers of an onion. At each layer, we find additional problems. Please know all our employees and crews from other states are working 16-hour shifts to get your power back on as soon as possible. We will not stop until everyone has service.

To report an outage, use PRECO’s SmartHub mobile app, text OUT to 8002823824 (prior registration required) or call 800-282-3824. For updates, find us on Facebook and Twitter or visit www.preco.coop.

Peace River Electric Cooperative (PRECO), a Touchstone Energy® distribution electric cooperative headquartered in Wauchula, Florida, provides electric service and energy solutions to more than 40,000 member/consumers in 10 central Florida counties: Brevard, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Manatee, Osceola, Polk and Sarasota. Through almost 4,000 miles of power lines, the electric cooperative has been in business since 1940 as a member-owned, not-for-profit organization.