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Gulf Power Expects To Restore Most Customers By Tuesday; EREC Restores Thousands
September 18, 2020
Gulf Power Company and Escambia River Electric Cooperative continue to restore power to those left in the dark by Hurricane Sally.
Gulf Power Company
In just one day, Gulf Power Company had restored 40% of the customers impacted by Hurricane Sally, but the company said heavy traffic combined with closed and damaged roads and bridges was slowing progress.
Based on initial assessments of the hardest-hit areas, Gulf Power expects to restore 95% of customers who can receive power in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties by the end of the day on Tuesday, September 22. Many customers will be restored before this date, and the company hopes to narrow down more specifics by Saturday.
By Thursday night, Gulf had restored service to more than 126,000 customers affected by Hurricane Sally. That left approximately 157,000 customers without electricity mainly in the hardest hit areas of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
“We know that in the wake of a hurricane customers want to know when they will get their lights back on,” said Marlene Santos, president of Gulf Power. “Our crews worked throughout the night and day restoring power and conducting assessments of damage to the energy grid so we could provide the best estimates of power restoration for our customers. We have a workforce of 7,000 committed to restoring power and you have our commitment that we will continue to work around the clock until every customer is restored.”
Escambia River Electric
About 95% of Escambia River Electric Cooperative customers lost power after Hurricane Sally — including every EREC member in Escambia County. All total 10,919 of 11,463 EREC customers lost power.
“EREC’s power system took a heavy hit from Hurricane Sally,” said EREC spokesperson Sabrina Owens. “Crews are working nonstop making repairs to our electrical system. Line personnel from other co-ops are assisting our crews in a massive restoration effort.”
Transmission lines to the Bratt and Oak Grove power substations were repaired Thursday, which immediately brought several hundred service addressed back online.
As of early Friday morning, there were 6,403 EREC customers — about 56% — still without power.
“We appreciate your patience, and we want members to know that work will not stop until everyone’s electricity has been restored,” Owens said.
Comments
50 Responses to “Gulf Power Expects To Restore Most Customers By Tuesday; EREC Restores Thousands”
Thank you EREC. I woke up to lights this morning! Thank you to all the linemen for your hard work!
Very slow service. All power companies restor service to the most populated areas first. More people with power means more money. Poor suckers living out in the country don’t pay in enough because there are much fewer of us to bill.
I have lost all hope the world will forever be dark this year is just proving itself once again I have no faith in anything anymore
I understand that being without electricity is not easy, but life is not easy. This is an inconvenience and human have only had electricity for a short time in our history. The lineman have a job that they cannot rush. If they make a mistake it cause more damage, fires, or death. Most people don’t think of how dangerous electricity is and linemen are working on high voltage. So be grateful you live in a place that normally has electricity 24/7. Appricate the electric working for risking thier lives to restore your life back to normal. I do not have electricity at my house, I don’t know when it will get restored and I’m okay with that.
Thank you so much to every worker from linemen to first responders that risk their lives to help the rest of us in our times of need.
I choose to not stress over being without power. This morning is the first time I have cellular data and can see news or internet.
No power is not fun, but there I are experienced to be had.
I accept I will be tossing out the food in fridge and freeze.I can be replaced.
We are hot and sweaty all day long and I look forward to my cooler than normal shower each night.
No A/C, so I get to enjoy an evening breeze.
No internet or Wifi, I get to step away from devices and see all around me.
No stove, so I get to use the grill that sits unused and enjoyed a dinner out on the patio with my husband. We haven’t done that, maybe never in our 30+ years of marriage.Talks with the hubby, boy have we talked to each other more the last few days than our “busy” lives allow.
My point is this, everyone can look at something as a negative or find the positive. I look for the positive. I hope everyone has a better day today than yesterday.
I’ve been meditating for the whole world while staving off heat exhaustion. I saw power trucks today and got so gosh darn excited. Sleeping with my window open for the 3rd night in a row, but it’s alright. This is nothing compared to bigger problems in our country and around the world. I want to express my gratitude to all the hardworking men and women who are working so hard to restore our power, a luxury many around the world don’t have to take for granted. Bless y’all, and bless us all!
I have to respond to all who are being a little inconvenienced by no power. Apparently you still have a home to sit in, clothes kn your back and cell phone. You need to remember some people lost everything or their homes are damaged. 2 years ago when Michael hit Panama City it was weeks before the majority of people had power. There are still areas that are being rebuilt. I will take a few days of being inconvenienced because thank God I have a home left and my family is safe. You all need to count your blessing it could have been much worse.
There are people out there that lost their homes and have nowhere to have power turned on at. And yall want to sit around and complain. Yall need to thank God for what you have.
EREC was fantastic. They restored our power within 14 hours of losing it. That’s amazing…..we went thru Ivan and had no power for a week. There is no way they can plan for the extent of ANY given storm, they have to deal with the outages they have been dealt. I personally passed dozens of out of town power trucks on I-10 filing into our counties. These men may get paid more money for coming here but remember they are leaving their families for sometimes weeks or months to just get us back online. Be grateful……..these linemen didn’t ASK for this storm to hit here and destroy our power grid. Remember……………….the first 72 is on YOU !!!
@Greg Gay,
You’re wrong, sir. I’ve been without power since Tuesday night. I have no hot shower (cold with very little water pressure, thank you), no sweet tea, have a tree through part of my house, and I completely understand that it will take a while to have power restored. I haven’t had a hot meal in 3 days, can’t wash clothes, ALL THE SAME COMPLAINTS YOU HAVE except that I also have a tree in my house, so WHY am I not complaining and urging patience???
Because I’m from Florida, where we go through this periodically and we know the routine and we APPRECIATE those who come to help us when they don’t have to do it! Because I’m a Southern lady who was raised with too much self respect to act like a jackass on a public forum!
It seems like the people who have their power on say the linemen are great, their risking their lives for you as they lounge in their A/C after a hot shower with an iced tea next to them watching their favorite show. The people who dont have power are sweating, smell like doody, can’t wash clothes or dishes and haven’t had a hot meal in three days. Those are the ones who are a little angry and understandably so.
Just be glad you don’t have Southern Pine around Atmore. Our lines are clear all the way to the Sub Station and we still have no power.
I live in Molino on Crabtree Church Rd. Of course we don’t have power yet. But what would you expect? The obvious place to start is where the governmental/hospitals buildings. Then they need to start where the majority of the people live. I do t expect power for a few days or possibly more. But we have a generator and as long as we can get gas we are good. Patience is a very important word and personality feature. We all need to be patient t and loving people. Thank you to all of the workers who are here removing trees and limbs from the power lines and road ways so that the power lines can be repaired and power turned back on.
I would like to thank you for all the hard work these lineman are doing. People need to stop complaining! If you got power first you wouldn’t complain but guess what they have to start somewhere and it just might not be your area. You aren’t a lineman so just because you don’t see a tree on the line doesn’t mean there isn’t a bigger issue that you can’t see. Your not the professional. Let these people do their jobs and appreciate them. They could easily go on strike and you all would be screwed. So stop complaining be patient and be grateful!
Thank you to all the line crews service you ARE APPRECIATED BEYOND BELIEF!
As like the rest of you we are without power. I am just as frustrated as you but we ALL have to think of these gracious people who showed up to help. Instead complaining when you see them offer them a cold drink or a bite to eat. And above all thsnk them for the work they are doing for US. I live up korth so I’m not really expecting any timr soon. And as we southern say “suck it up butter cup:
Apparently we are surrounded by ungrateful idiots!!!!
There are too many commenting on here to respond to each BUT…maybe you don’t see any trucks because the lines are damaged further away and they have to start at the beginning and work their way toward you!!!
Also, your next door neighbor may have it but not you because, guess what, not everybody is on the same line!!! There are multiple lines and transformers that provide service to this area. They ALL have to be repaired before we ALL have electricity again. As they get them fixed, customers will start getting service.
Update you? UPDATE YOU??? I’d rather they spent that time focusing on getting my lights back on instead of mollycoddling a bunch of crybabies! Grow up!!!
Some of you should be ashamed of yourselves. No wonder this country has been in such chaos lately…we have too many self entitled brats!!!
Many thanks to all working to get power restored. Please be safe.
Frustrating to see those to the south of me on West Roberts Get power yesterday. West Roberts had trees down and lines down but repaired and customers restored. Kingsfield between 297a and 97 repaired. But Kingsfield from 297a to Chemstrand with no tree issues and no lines pulled from poles still powerless. Apparent our grid get the power via some line on Chemstrand. I don’t know. I’m great full these linemen are humping it to restore power. Just didn’t seem like some areas without major issues didn’t get restored as quickly as everything surrounding them and with greater issues got restored. Hopefully we get power on Saturday.
Any idea about power restoration for Cantonment? My sister, disabled with inoperable brain aneurism lives there with family, and young grand daughter. Realizing roads are dangerous, what is recommended in the event of life threatening emergency? Appreciation to all risking their lives to aid this community!
One thing to remember. If your power is off, Gulf Power (and all electric companies for that matter) is not making a dime. They want your power back on as SAFELY and quickly as possible.
That said, you should remember that places such hospitals, hotels, restaurants, gas stations (for the crews and other essential workers to eat, rest at night, etc.) must have priority over me as an individual home owner. Transmission and main feeder lines must be repaired before crews can begin work on neighborhoods. The work is potentially dangerous, very hard, hot, and too often thankless. Sixteen and eighteen hour days are common. It takes special men and women to do this work including lots of strength, endurance, and brains!
When you go to bed tonight you might consider a little prayer for these gallant folks. Their homes may be terribly damaged and they are separated from their families, but they are out there working to the best of their abilities to restore your power
What about avalone apt on pine forest road everyone south and north has power but us
I greatly appreciate the local and travelling linemen working to restore power to our areas. Many of these dedicated people are leaving their families and homes that may also be damaged and/or without power, working together to help our communities.
I’m disappointed in seeing so much negativity in the self-centered responses. Electricity doesn’t magically appear from your closes power pole; there’s an infrastructure that needs to be repaired between the supplying generators to your homes. These crews are working in an organized effort to get power back to all. Recognize the challenges they face to do that and the personal sacrifices they make to get that job done.
Stay safe, linemen… your efforts are appreciated!
Still no power in century . I guess our residents didn’t make the important list like Jay and Bratt and Flomaton . So many power trucks are just riding by !! I feel like a number amount of power trucks should be assigned to each part of county, To be fair to everyone in this difficult time BUT the world we live in today obviously doesn’t know fair !
Gulf Power is working hard to restore power and will get to you just as soon as they restore power to the rich neighborhoods just like they always do. I bet Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key look like a swarm of bees working.
You know I to am grateful for the speed and how quickly they are working on this, with the governor getting involved too. But it’s also saddening when I recall the hurricane that hit Puerto Rico left them without power for months.
Why is it that you cant let the people who will not get power until Tuesday their status? There are no updates. Some people may need to make arrangements if it is foing to be that long. It really isn’t too much to ask for you to update. Gulf power was more organized and informative during Ivan.
Thank you William for stepping in on this. I didn’t even have a cell signal until yesterday and was completely cut off from any info about damage except for radio until yesterday. We drove a little ways from the house just to be able to make phone calls to family and they were telling us about the bridge and more. Unfortunately, without TV and being able to have the damage being shown, many are unaware of how bad it is all over Escambia County not to mention areas all around us. WE AREN’T THE ONLY AREA HIT!! We had to drive across town to check on family homes. Dodging trees, wires and risking your life at any intersection with a traffic light is what you’ll see. We chose to drive to to Crestview yesterday for some extra supplies. We saw damage and trees down most of the way there.
Power trucks and tree service i.e. Asplundh, are coming in from many other areas to help but must share their workforce with many other areas. Some of the longer convoys were being escorted and with I10 being closed due to flooding near Crestview, the detour and traffic back up is taking them many extra hours just trying to get back on the interstate west of Crestview. Hotels here are full yet they’re coming in anyway.
Now maybe some folks will realize what it means when they say “The first 72 is on you”. We hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Thank you NorthEscambia for always being our info line.
Still no power on east end of Molino Rd. either. We got hit very hard in old Molino so we were expecting several days without power. Trees are down everywhere and a lot of poles are snapped. Power company is up there working but they have their work cut out for them. People need to learn to be a little more considerate and patient. They are working as fast as they can. Hope everyone stays safe.
I am still without power, but THANK YOU TO ALL THE LINEMAN and those working to restore our electricity. You are AWESOME!!
@L
Sally just hit on Tuesday evening up into the evening, the winds didn’t let up. So unless you expected EREC to be out in it for you, you can’t count that day! Would you be in a bucket truck in 80 MPH wind gusts next to power lines and broken poles? So I actually say it’s been 2 days! Do you have a roof that’s not leaking? Windows that you can open? And we can all be Thankful for the 80 degree weather instead of the high 90 degrees it has been. So look for something positive and tell a lineman thank you for being away from their family and also coming home to a house with no power for a few hours to get a little rest, if that’s okay with you?
Thank you EREC, great job!
“L” wrote — “i have not seen a single erec truck anywhere!!! they are not working fast we have been without power for three days! erec is trash. i understand that there are more people out there than me. however we should be able to find them working around bratt.”
Really? By all means while you are out there looking for EREC trucks, grab a chainsaw and start clearing around power lines to help them out. And you may not see an EREC truck at all, the cause of you outage could be miles away. And you might not see an EREC truck it might be the Withlacoochee Cooperative, Sumpter Electric, Talquin Electric, 4 County from Mississippi, Yazoo Valley or many others that are out on the EREC system.
Hundreds of linemen are out working 24/7 restoring power to the EREC system. These are the men and women from several states that are risking their lives, working to the point of exhaustion and away from their families to get your power back on. Be more considerate. Heck, just be a little more human.
We started not to approve your rude comment. But we did as an example of just how low people will stoop.
Hopefully ours will be restored today theres no flooding and no trees down around the lines so im very curious as to why everywhere else is getting power and the easy access areas are being forced to wait smh im appreciative of their work just seems like ud go easier first then the heavier stuff
i have not seen a single erec truck anywhere!!! they are not working fast we have been without power for three days! erec is trash. i understand that there are more people out there than me. however we should be able to find them working around bratt. it should not be that hard to get a lil town like bratt up and workin again.
when is my electronic going to be turned on? I live off Lillian by the post office
Going on 72 hours still no power. live in Santa Villa , on AVENIDA De Golf
Thanks for all your hard work guys… still don’t have power but we know it’s coming soon
People act like they can just run out and hook it up. I saw so many trees on rip of power lines. So that means those trees have to be cut too. People in Lake Charles still don’t have power from Laura. So stop complaining.
Our neighborhood, Skycrest, has a pole that broke at the base when a tree fell on the wires. It was called in right after it happened. We are hoping someone will come by and assess the damage. The subdivision is a couple of blocks west of Ferry Pass Middle School.
i’m not patient. never have been. hurry up! it’s hot.
Thank you again, EREC for all of your hard work.
We are patiently waiting for power to be restored. Meanwhile, saying prayers for safety for all the linemen out working to make this possibly.
Thank you, William, for sharing EREC update. As one of the 6,403 customers still without power, it’s good to know so much progress has already been made! We knew about the substations and feared it would take a month to get going again.
A BIG Thank You to all EREC workers, lineman and all involved!!! We know how much time and sacrifice you are giving! May God protect you, we love you!
I like how golf power can say that there out restoring up in northeast escambia that’s a d*** lie no power trucks up here at all except most of them just passing thru.No trucks are in century
I think these guys are the best. Hard job getting everyone back on. I have been without electric since the storm not complaining here. Be safe guys!
My power popped on at 12:30 this morning, and hasn’t flickered out once after! Whether the line crew was volunteer or local, I am unspeakably grateful for your hard work. Returning to “normal” is sure a huge part of healing.
Thanks EREC, Great response to such a major disaster.
Many people past the corner store (previously known as coopers) have power, how ever shortly past the school (Northview Highschool) there is still no power. Really hoping to have the lights on soon, as a type 1 diabetic not having the lights is making life a living nightmare.
Come on erec you doing a beautiful job.just alittle bit further an I will have power.god bless all of you that’s worked so hard in this weather an non stop hours.thank all of you
People Just Need To Be Patient & Knw That Yhu Guys Working Fast As Yhu Cn To Restore Electric…..