LCEC – Lee County Electric Cooperative

LCEC Power Update

September 29, 2022 – Just over 90 percent of LCEC customers are without power today. In accordance with utility best-practices, damage assessment will take place throughout the six-county service territory today and into tomorrow. More than 500 crews and additional LCEC field employees began evaluating the entire electric grid to determine the quickest strategy to energize main circuits this morning. Depending on their ability to navigate flooded areas, downed bridges, debris, and vegetation, this could take more than one day.

What can customers do?

• Stay away from downed power lines.
• Turn off the main breaker to their home/business.
• Operate generators safely
• Help neighbors
• Do not call to report an outage – utilities know the power is out

and are working as quickly, safely, and smartly to restore power.

Generator safety tips from LCEC

Wind and debris from Hurricane Ian could cause power outages. Crews are ready to respond and LCEC does not expect extended outages requiring backup power supply. For those customers planning to use a generator, safety is of the utmost importance. Please consider the following tips to keep you, your family, and utility workers safe while using a generator:

• Don’t connect your generator directly to your home’s wiring at the breaker panel or meter or a regular household outlet. Connecting a portable electric generator directly to your household wiring can be deadly to you and others. A generator that is directly connected to your home’s wiring can ‘back feed’ onto the power lines connected to your home. You could also cause expensive damage to utility equipment and your generator.
• The only safe way to connect a portable electric generator to your existing wiring is to have a licensed electrical contractor install a transfer switch. The transfer switch transfers power from the utility power lines to the power coming from your generator.
• Connect individual appliances that have their outdoor-rated power cords directly to the receptacle outlet of the generator, or connect these cord-connected appliances to the generator with the appropriate outdoor-rated power cord having a sufficient wire gauge to handle the electrical load.
• Don’t overload the generator. Do not operate more appliances and equipment than the output rating of the generator. Overloading your generator can seriously damage your valuable appliances and electronics. Prioritize your needs. A portable electric generator should be used only when necessary, and only to power essential equipment.
• Never use a generator indoors or in an attached garage. Just like your automobile, a portable generator uses an internal combustion engine that emits deadly carbon monoxide. Be sure to place the generator where exhaust fumes will not enter the house, in a well-ventilated, dry area, away from air intakes to the home, and protected from direct exposure to rain, preferably under a canopy, open shed or carport.
• Do not store fuel indoors or try to refuel a generator while it’s running. Gasoline (and other flammable liquids) should be stored outside of living areas in properly labeled, non-glass safety containers. They should not be stored in a garage if a fuel-burning appliance is in the garage. The vapor from gasoline can travel invisibly along the ground and be ignited by pilot lights or electric arcs caused by turning on the lights. Avoid spilling fuel on hot components. Always have a fully charged, approved fire extinguisher located near the generator.
• Turn off all equipment powered by the generator before shutting down your generator.