City Electric System is prepared for hurricane season 2000. If the keys are hit by any tropical storms that cause power outages, crews will be ready to begin the restoration process immediately.
"Power outages following a hurricane are almost inevitable," Lynne Tejeda, communications director at CES, explained. "Our restoration effort basically breaks down into two separate areas, power supply and power distribution."
Power supply is the actual electricity. City Electric System typically imports its power from the mainland Florida via the tieline— a 138 kV transmission line. If the tieline is damaged during a hurricane, City Electric System has local, back up generator that can supply electricity.
After the storm has passed, crews will bring the local-back-up generation on-line. This process takes at least two hours and could take longer if equipment has sustained damage. Back up generators can supply the area with up to 60-percent of the normal power needs of our community.
City Electric System would appeal for conservation, and if customers simply turn off the air conditioners, power would be available for everyone. Without voluntary conservation, City Electric System would have forced conservation by rotating power outages.
Power transmission distribution is the way that the electricity reaches your home or business. Distribution equipment includes substations, power lines, transformers and the actual lines into your home.
If the Lower Florida Keys take a direct hit, City Electric System would anticipate significant damage to its distribution system. City Electric System, with the help of other utilities and contractors, will begin the long process of restoring power.
This process includes setting new poles, rehanging lines that fall, hanging new lines, and replacing transformers. Customers may also have responsibilities for repairing the equipment on their home such as the weatherhead.
Customers should anticipate being without power for extended periods. Following Hurricane Georges, the power restoration effort lasted up to 12 days in areas that were hard hit.