Report Downed Power Lines or Unsafe Equipment
Report downed power lines or unsafe equipment, and stay clear of all downed power lines or electrical equipment. Call 911 to report a downed power line if you feel the situation presents a clear and imminent danger to you or others. Then report the wire down to Florida Keys Electric Cooperative (FKEC) by calling (305) 852-2431.
“Wire down” calls are intended to safeguard the public from a life-threatening situation. FKEC emergency crews answering these calls will not restore power; they will only make the area safe. If you have already reported the wire down, your call has already generated a report, and there is no need to report it again.
Safety After a Storm
- Assume all cables and wires are energized and stay away.
- Call 911 and FKEC at (305) 852-2431 to report fallen power lines that present a clear and imminent danger to you or others.
- Stay away from flooded areas, or standing water and debris, which could potentially conceal ”energized” electrical wires.
- If you leave your home, turn off all appliances or turn off your main breaker.
- Avoid driving in damaged areas. You might interfere with rescue or restoration efforts, as well as jeopardize your own safety.
- If operating a portable generator always run it outside your house or building and away from windows.
- If your roof or windows leak, water in your walls and ceiling may come into contact with electrical wiring. Immediately turn off your circuit breakers, disconnect all electrical appliances that are still plugged in, and turn off all wall switches. Remember, never stand in water while operating switches or unplugging any electrical device.
Post-Storm Restoration Plan
FKEC works year-round to stay prepared for hurricane and tropical storms. Learn more about the 7 steps we follow as part of our storm restoration plan.
Power Restoration Frequently Asked Questions
In general, you should always call FKEC at (305) 852-2431 and use the automated phone system to report the outage. Using the automated system is the fastest and most accurate way to report a power outage.
In the event of a major storm, FKEC will be inspecting the entire power system to evaluate and locate widespread outages. In this case, you can expect a high call volume, but you should attempt to report the outage, especially if it persists for days after the storm. Note, FKEC works to restore power to the greatest number of people in the least amount of time. Then works on isolated issues.
Please do not report an outage at your account unless you are 100% sure your power is out. False reports will skew our outage management system and can slow restoration efforts.
Before you call to report an outage, check all circuit breakers or fuses to help determine if your service outage might be the result of a household problem.
If you have significant water damage in your home that might make it unsafe, call a licensed electrician for advice.
Visually inspect the area outside your home near the meter. If the meter or any of the piping and wires on the wall of your home or office is gone or looks damaged, call a licensed electrician.
If no problems are apparent, FKEC will reconnect your service or assist in determining whether you have a household problem.
We also care about the safety of our employees. We do not ask them to make repairs when conditions are unsafe or if the damaged area is flooded or inaccessible. In these extreme situations, we depend on your patience and understanding until we can restore power safely.
Work is organized to restore power to the greatest number of members in the least amount of time. FKEC also prioritizes restoring power to life and safety situations and essential community services. Following this, crews work to restore power to individual members with isolated issues.
There are several reasons your neighbors may have power when you do not:
- You may be on a different feeder line than your neighbors.
- The power line to your home may have more extensive damage.
- You may be connected to a different transformer, which could be damaged
- Your service wires could be damaged (serving only you)
Because safety is our primary concern, we cannot connect power to your home until inspectors have determined that your home is safe. If your home is unsafe, please call the appropriate licensed contractor to make the necessary repairs. After the repairs are completed, contact FKEC at (305) 852-2431 to reconnect power to your home.
If the connection between your home and the power line, overhead or underground, is damaged, we will continue to work as quickly and safely as possible to repair it. Remember, restoration is organized to restore power to the greatest number of members in the least amount of time so isolated issues will be secondary to overall repairs.
Storm Recap
Hurricane Irma: FKEC Before, During, and After (PDF)
Read about Hurricane Irma’s impact on FKEC when it struck the Florida Keys in 2017.