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Home / Your Cooperative / Current Light Flashes

Current Light Flashes

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Hurricane MIchael Slams into WFEC Distribution System

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Hurricane Michael came barreling through the Panhandle on October 10, leaving a path of devastation in its wake. West Florida Electric Cooperative’s (WFEC’s) electric distribution system received significant damage caused by very high winds and rain. The cooperative serves approximately 28,000 meters in Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson & Washington Counties. On October 11, all but 189 of those meters were without power.

Crews began working immediately assessing the damage caused by this catastrophic storm, the likes of which no one in the Florida Panhandle has ever seen.

Linemen faced many challenges when trying to restore power to WFEC members including hazards such as
trees on roads, trees tangled with poles and power lines and other debris blocking access for crucial equipment.

PowerSouth, the cooperative’s generation and transmission cooperative also experienced damage to its transmission system, which had to be repaired before linemen were able to energize local sections of
line.

Another challenge faced by the cooperative included communications equipment failure. When local phone
service goes out, so do internal and external communications. This made it impossible for co-op members
to call to report power outages.

To date, the cooperative has received help from over 1,000 linemen and right-of-way workers from across the country. This is the most line workers ever used for hurricane restoration by any co-op in the state of Florida. Early estimates are that this rebuild and restoration of WFEC’s electric distribution system will cost
$30-$35 million. Restoration efforts continue at the time of publication.

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Your Bill

  • Pay Your Bill Online
  • Understanding Your Bill
  • Ways To Pay Your Bill
  • Ways to Reduce Your Bill
  • View Your Account
  • Modify Your Account
  • Levelize Your Bill
  • EZ Pay Power (Prepaid)

Your Electric Service

  • Apply for Service
  • Disconnect Your Service
  • Transfer Your Service
  • Mobile Apps
  • Text Power
  • Service Requirements
  • View Current Outages
  • Dual Service Requirements
  • Line Extension
  • Tree Trimming/Right-of-Way

Your Cooperative

  • Mobile Apps
  • Products and Services
  • Hurricane Preparedness
  • Medically Essential Service
  • GenerLink™ Transfer Switch
  • Current Light Flashes
  • Capital Credits
  • Electrical Safety
  • Youth Tour Competition
  • West Florida Electric Scholarship
  • Empower Energy Education Workshop
  • The Cooperative Difference
  • Economic Development
  • WFEC Member Survey
  • Solar Energy
  • Outdoor Lighting
  • Co-ops Vote
  • Community Involvement

Save Energy, Save Money

  • Relief Agencies Assisting with Bill Payments
  • Energy Audits
  • Manufactured Home Program
  • Heat Pump Rebates
  • Energy Efficiency Loan Program
  • ChooseEV Electric Vehicle Resources
  • Customized Home Energy Report
  • DIY Energy Savings Tools
  • Together We Save

About Us

  • Careers
  • Board of Trustees
  • Board Meeting Minutes
  • Touchstone Energy
  • Executive Staff
  • History
  • Company Overview
  • Statement of Nondiscrimination
  • Bonifay District Office
  • Graceville District Office
  • Sneads District Office
  • Electric Rates
  • Fees
  • WFEC Bylaws

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1.800.342.7400www.westflorida.coop

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