‹ Back to Light Flashes

Plug strips like the one above are often confused with surge protection strips like the one offered by WFEC. Strips like this one are not made to effectively block strong power surges like the ones available at WFEC

Florida’s nickname may be the “Sunshine State” but did you know that no other part of the nation has more thunderstorm activity than Florida? According to the Florida Climate Center, in the western half of the peninsula, there are over 80 days with thunder and lightning. Thunderstorms are just part of living in Florida and are more numerous during the warm season when the wind off the sea flows inland during the afternoon. In fact, Florida leads the United States annually in the number of thunderstorm days, according to FloridaDisaster.org.

Did you know that 95 percent of surge-related damage claims are from indirect lightning strikes? Lightning is not the only cause of a “power surge” – a very brief but extreme burst of extra energy. They can also be caused by things like animals or birds on power lines, wind-blown limbs or even downed poles. The surge protection program at West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC) is designed to protect your home and electronics from these damaging surges.

“There are three primary ways a surge can enter your home. Through the electrical system, through a phone line and through a coax or cable line. In many cases people purchase expensive surge protectors to help protect them from surges on the electrical side, but they leave the door wide open on the phone and coax lines, which are equally, if not more prone to be the gateway for surges entering the home,” said Terry Mullen, WFEC Manager of Marketing & Communications.

“Stop for a minute and think about what your phone line is plugged in to. At my home, there is one plugged in to the back of my satellite receiver so I can order movies and upgrade my service. That’s a direct line to my big screen TV, satellite receiver and DVD player. I also have one coming into my wireless internet router. How about the satellite dish on a metal pole in your yard or mounted to the roof of your house? It has a direct line via coax cable to your nice, new 64” TV. I think you get the picture. However, if you do not have properly installed surge protection you may not be getting it for long…a TV picture that is,” Mullen continued. 

Protect your home with the comprehensive surge protection options available from WFEC. The equipment is affordable and assists in eliminating storm-related and other surges that can damage your home appliances and sensitive electronics.

A surge protection system from WFEC uses a two-tiered approach and is one of the most effective ways to protect your property. The first tier of protection is a meter-base surge protection device which reduces power surges to a lower level, protecting large appliances, such as freezers and refrigerators. We refer to these appliances as “white goods” or electro-mechanical appliances that have compressors or motors.

The second tier of protection comes from an in-home plug strip that sensitive electronic equipment such as computers, TVs, and microwaves can be plugged in to directly. The plug strip is designed to protect items that have micro-processors, which are more susceptible to surges. 

The meter base surge suppressor can be leased for just $3.25 plus tax per month and purchased for $124.95 plus tax. The surge protection package, which includes the meter-base unit and the in-home plug strip can be leased for $5.75 plus tax per month. The plug strip can be purchased for $89.95 plus tax. Each one of these devices comes with a comprehensive manufacturer’s warranty if the equipment is properly installed.

Contact the cooperative at (800) 342-7400 or visit our website (www.westflorida.coop) to learn more about our surge protection devices or to sign up before those summer thunderstorms arrive.