Utilities assemble armies of workers in preparation for herculean Hurricane Helene

Nearly 50,000 utilities workers from at least 27 states have been dedicated to the Hurricane Helene response and electric companies in the colossal storm’s path have prepositioned equipment, resources, and mutual assistance workers to assist in their storm response efforts.

“The CEO-led Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council is engaged to ensure unity of effort across the highest levels of industry and government,” the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) said this morning, referring to the council that serves as the principal liaison between the federal government and the electric power industry on efforts to prepare for, and respond to, national-level disasters or threats to critical infrastructure.

“Strong industry-government coordination and cross-sector collaboration are critical,” said EEI.

Hurricane Helene is expected to hit Florida tonight as a Category 3 storm, which the National Weather Service (NWS) said will bring life-threatening and catastrophic storm surge and damaging hurricane-force winds to Florida and inland across the Southeast. Flash/urban flooding, including landslides, is also expected across the southern Appalachians, the NWS reported, with considerable to locally catastrophic flash flooding likely for northwestern and northern Florida and the Southeast.

In response, Florida Power & Light Co. (FPL) said it has assembled a restoration workforce of thousands and is prepositioning crews, equipment, and supplies to restore power.

The Juno Beach, Fla.-based FPL, the principal subsidiary of NextEra Energy Inc., is the state’s largest power utility, serving roughly five million customers. Regardless of where Helene makes landfall, FPL said that its customers throughout the state could see some impact from the severe weather leading to power interruptions.

Today, FPL called on those in the storm’s path to prepare for widespread, extended power outages.

“Helene is expected to be a powerful storm with widespread impacts,” FPL President and CEO Armando Pimentel said. “I want to assure customers that FPL is ready to respond. We have a restoration workforce strategically positioned and ready to restore power quickly. We will not stop until every customer is restored.”

Among the crews traveling in to assist FPL are workers from regulated electric utility company, Cleco Power, which serves roughly 290,000 retail customers in Louisiana.

Five Cleco line crews, consisting of approximately 40 line mechanics from across Cleco’s service territory, will assist FPL with restoration efforts. They are joined by three project coordinators, distribution operations leadership, a safety professional, and a fleet mechanic, said Cleco Power.

“It brings us great pride to be able to support Florida and the team at Florida Power & Light,” said Andre Guillory, chief customer officer for Cleco Power. “Cleco understands the challenges a hurricane can bring and we’re eager to assist a fellow power company.”

Depending on Hurricane Helene’s impact, Cleco crews expect to be in Florida anywhere from a few days to a few weeks until restoration is complete.

“When Louisiana experiences a hurricane, our neighboring states are always there to help us with restoration efforts,” said Clint Robichaux, director of distribution operations and reliability at Cleco Power. “We’ve assisted our fellow utilities in the past, like Georgia Power in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. And we’re grateful that we’re able to serve again, this time in Florida.”

Also on their way to assist FPL are some 85 Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) workers.

The teams from PSO’s Tulsa, Lawton, and McAlester Districts will arrive today to receive their work assignments and locations. The contingent includes line crews, servicers, assessors, inspectors, fleet mechanics, and other support personnel.

“PSO participates in mutual assistance agreements with other electricity providers across the country to help restore power safely and as quickly as possible during emergencies like Hurricane Helene,” said PSO Distribution Vice President Dwayne Apple. “Our crews don’t hesitate to take time away from their families and travel to assist other utility companies. We know utility workers in other states will do the same to help us restore service to our customers if needed.”

Meanwhile, Tampa Electric, one of Florida’s largest investor-owned electric utilities serving more than 840,000 customers in west central Florida, also has secured thousands of workers from more than 20 states to help restore power after Helene passes.

About 3,500 people, including line crews and tree trimmers, stand ready to respond, said Tampa Electric, noting that mutual assistance crews are traveling in from as far away as Colorado and Connecticut to help.

Most are arriving today in central Florida, the company said, and will remain outside of the storm’s path until it is safe to begin working. Tampa Electric also is opening up to five base camps to house and feed the utility crews while they help to restore power.

Because Helene is expected to bring life-threatening storm surge, heavy rain, and damaging winds starting tonight, this could result in significant, extended power outages, according to the company.

“Helene has the potential to cause significant damage, and we are doing everything possible to prepare for a safe restoration,” said Archie Collins, president and chief executive officer of Tampa Electric. “The safety of our customers and employees is our No. 1 priority, and I encourage our customers to prepare for extended power outages. Please stay safe.”

On Friday, as Helene heads north from Florida, Duke Energy is also preparing to respond, saying earlier today that it’s finalizing its response plans for Helene in the Carolinas, including staging more than 10,000 lineworkers, tree trimmers, and other storm support personnel.

The company also urges customers to prepare themselves for severe rain and tropical-storm-force gusts, which could lead to power outages.

“Our workers will be ready to begin assessing damage and restoring power as soon as the storm passes and conditions are safe,” said Jason Hollifield, Duke Energy’s storm director in the Carolinas. “In the meantime, we continue to monitor weather conditions and encourage customers to have a plan in place in case they experience an outage.”

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