LCEC – Lee County Electric Cooperative

LCEC Restoration Update – Oct. 8 – 6 a.m.

October 8, 2022 – LCEC employees and the army of mutual aid line workers, tree trimmers, suppliers, vendors, local and state officials, and community supporters reached the 72  percent  restoration mark this morning. Many parts of its six-county territory have been mostly restored for customers able to receive power.

Close to 2,500 crews will continue with the monumental task of restoring power to the remaining customers over the weekend. Planning is also underway to begin work on the barrier islands of Sanibel and Pine Island. LCEC and its members have been supported by the following mutual aid and many more throughout the restoration process.

• 400 LCEC employees working tirelessly before, during, and after the storm to support more than 2,300 line workers requiring fuel, material and supplies, crew coordination, food, lodging, laundry, technology, and everything it takes restore power.
• Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Electric Cooperative Association are helping in many ways including to bring additional line worker and tree trimmer resources to the area and options for accessing the barrier islands.
• Hundreds of electric cooperative crews and contractors from across the nation arrived before the storm and additional crews joined the effort in the aftermath.
• Line workers and support personnel from Duke Energy arrived this week to help restore power in Cape Coral and will then deploy to Pine Island to bring power to those who can receive power safely.
• Florida Power & Light (FPL) is preparing to deploy a restoration workforce of a few hundred with a coordination team, critical materials and electrical equipment, logistics support, and help coordination with a barge to transport bucket trucks to Sanibel Island.

*Restoration numbers percentage does not include Pine Island & Sanibel until access to the islands is possible.

Customers out of power at this time are urged to inspect and make repairs to their weather head and any damage to their home electric system if needed so they are able to receive power when restoration crews reach their area. Visit the LCEC Hurricane Guide to learn more.

LCEC reminds customers to stay away from downed power lines, turn off breakers until power is restored, and use generators safely to protect themselves and crews working on lines in their neighborhood.