Peace River Electric Prepares for Hurricane Irma

Posted: September 9, 2017 at 7:00 am

Peace River Electric Cooperative (PRECO) is currently on alert and is prepared to meet any challenges presented by Hurricane Irma. We have commitments from other electric cooperatives in neighboring states to provide line crews to assist us with power restoration in the aftermath of the storm.

Following the storm, PRECO is committed to restoring electric service as quickly as possible. We will focus our repairs on areas which will restore service to the most people in the least amount of time. Power will be restored in the sequence shown below because individual services cannot receive electricity until all previous steps are completed.

The steps to restoring power are shown below:

Step 1: Transmission Lines. These supply power to one or more substations.

Step 2: Substations. A substation serves thousands of homes and businesses.

Step 3: Main Distribution Lines. Each line serves a portion of members from each substation.

Step 4: Tap Lines. These serve smaller groups of members from the main distribution lines.

Step 5: Individual Services. These lines serve individual homes and buildings.

Priority will be placed on agencies which protect life and property, such as hospitals and fire departments. Also, any situation posing immediate danger will also be taken care of as quickly as possible.

Special needs individuals who depend on electricity to operate life support need to make plans now for alternate sources of power or alternate lodging in the event of a prolonged electrical outage.

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.