Latest update from City of Lake Worth Electric Utilities: Outages and more information.

From Hurricane Irma
Update #17:

Electric Distribution System

Our electric system is currently experiencing numerous outages city wide with only 3 circuits in operation and servicing approximately 1,500 customers. Our crews worked diligently and with great resolve throughout the storm to try and clear outages as they were occurring. However as the storm winds increased on Sunday afternoon we had to limit our outdoor work due to safety concerns. 

Causes for outages include trees down across phases, damage due to customer roof failures, flying debris contacting wires, vegetation/tree contacts, pole fires, and failure of electric components on poles. There is at least one report of damage that appears to be tornado related with many blocks of the system affected. 

Due to the significant extent of damage, darkness, coupled with high winds and rain we pulled the crews in Sunday evening to rest and stay safe. Fresh crews have begun work this morning and are out on the streets conducting damage assessments and restoring circuits to operation. This will be a methodical process using established priorities for public safety and minimum time to restore maximum numbers of customers.

Electric Transmission (aka Tie Line to FPL)

Our tie line to FPL was removed from service last night due to problems on the FPL system. We are currently in island operations relying on our own electric generation to support our system. The condition and possible damage to the tie line is unknown at this time. We are awaiting information from FPL with further information. The tie line was at least partially affected by a large billboard with flapping debris making repeated contract with the energized line.

Electric Generation (aka Power Plant)

4 of 5 “M” units are currently on-line providing auxiliary power to the power plant and the remaining electric distribution customers. The plant’s cooling towers were damaged due to high winds on Sunday afternoon and evening, the extent of the damage is currently being assessed. Our plan is to attempt to bring electric generating units on-line to support customer loads concurrent with the electric distribution system’s restoration.

Safety

Please treat any and all downed wires near an electrical pole as Live and extremely dangerous. Do not try to move or repair these but instead contact the Electric Utilities emergency phone number (877-454-4480) and allow our crews to handle the situation.

Do not plug your generator into the mains power. This can cause damage to the system and is extremely dangerous to crews working to restore your power. Plug appliances into the generator directly. Also under no circumstances should you attempt to run your generator indoors. 

Thank you for your patience and support through the storm. As we begin recovery our crews are working hard to minimize your time without power.