An army of more than 44,000 workers from at least 33 states and the District of Columbia is working around the clock to complete damage assessments and to restore power to customers impacted by Hurricane Ian in Florida.
According to the Edison Electric Institute's Sept. 30 restoration update, here are some numbers to know:
- The highest number of customers out at one time in Florida was about 2.7 million on Thursday, September 29.
- As of 5 p.m. EDT, electric companies in Florida already had restored power to about 1.9 million customers who were impacted at some point during the storm.
- As of 5 p.m. EDT, about 1.7 million customers were without power in Florida.
The significant investments made in hardening critical transmission and distribution infrastructure in Florida have enabled crews to accelerate customer restoration. Investments in smarter energy infrastructure also have greatly increased situational awareness, helping this efficient response.
In the Carolinas and Virginia, more than 10,000 workers are mobilized and ready to restore power to customers impacted by Ian when and where they can, provided it is safe to do so. In some areas, crews will not be able to use certain equipment, including bucket trucks, until high winds subside. As of 5 p.m. EDT, about 370,000 customers were without power in these three states.
For more information, visit the EEI's storm center.
Below is a map of the mutual assistance networks activated. Electric companies, municipal utilities, and electric co-ops in the path of Ian strategically pre-positioned equipment, resources, and mutual assistance workers to assist in their storm response. Nearly 44,000 workers from at least 33 states and the District of Columbia are mobilized to help restore power.
