TAMPA, Fla. — Duke Energy restored power for more than 407,000 customers in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the electric company said in a release on Friday.
Nearly 285,000 customers were still experiencing power outages as of 5 p.m.
"With 8,000 personnel, and many working through the night, the company has also established estimated times of restoration for Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas and Sumter," Duke Energy said.
About 95% of Duke customers in those counties are expected to have power back by Sunday at 11:59 p.m. Some customers should have power before then, while those who experienced severe flooding and damage may take longer. Impacted customers should expect updates from Duke Energy in the coming days.
“Several areas of the state were severely devastated by this storm, so it’s safe to say power restoration is going to be a multi-day event. Even as flooding recedes, the debris left behind is also proving to be a significant challenge,” said Todd Fountain, Duke Energy Florida storm director. “We appreciate our customers’ patience and thank our emergency management officials and first responders for all their hard work.”
If you need to report an outage, you can do so through the Duke Energy mobile app or by calling 800.228.8485.
The most up-to-date information about restoration efforts can be accessed by enrolling in Outage Alerts.
