Hurricane Helene Update 10/3

We are beyond grateful for the assistance of fellow cooperatives and outside contractors who have worked tirelessly alongside us throughout our Hurricane Helene restoration efforts. Thanks to their incredible support and the dedication of our hometown CFEC crews, we are thrilled to announce that we’ve surpassed our goal of 95% restoration across all counties we serve. This was no small feat, as our electric system sustained significant damage, but the determination of our crews and partners made it possible.

While only a small number of isolated outages remain, crews are still actively working on these to restore power and will not stop until each member that can be is restored. We are also still closely coordinating with County inspection authorities and members whose homes or equipment were impacted by flooding or personal damage to move their restoration process along.

For those still tracking restoration progress on our outage map, you’ll notice some changes today. To better communicate which outages require extended coordination due to flooding or equipment damage, we are in the process of moving these outages to a new "Planned" outage tab. Please note: this DOES NOT mean we’re not working to restore these outages. We are actively moving the restoration process forward for those members - it is just going to take a little more time and coordination to accomplish in these harder hit areas.

• If you are still without power and it’s NOT due to flooding or damage to your own equipment, please report your outage now at https://www.cfec.com/outage-center/report-an-outage/ so we can be sure we are aware of every last outage that remains.

We thank you for your patience and support as we complete these final stages of restoration, and we remain committed to serving our coastal communities in the days and weeks ahead as we continue to rebuild, repair, and restore power.

Hurricane Helene Update 10/1

We know how hard it is for those still without power—waiting to see the long-awaited trucks and crews in your area can be frustrating, and we understand how desperate the situation feels. Please know that we are fully committed and not easing up on our efforts. Crews are still working tirelessly across the service area, clearing trees and repairing downed lines to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

As of this morning, we have 7,621 members still awaiting restoration:

• Levy County: 1,861 members
• Dixie County: 3,164 members
• Gilchrist County: 2,382 members
• Alachua County: 214 members

We anticipate restoration to those who can safely receive it in both Levy and Dixie counties by 9 PM tomorrow, Wednesday the 2nd.

For members in Gilchrist and Alachua counties, we expect restoration to those who can safely receive it by Thursday the 3rd at noon.

We know this wait is tough, but please rest assured—we are determined to get power restored to every last member. Crews are continuing to work around the clock, and we won't stop until the job is done.

• If your meter pole or meter can has been damaged by Hurricane Helene, please report this damage to CFEC and we will send crews to safety disconnect the meter and make notes of the damage. More information on what to do if Hurricane Helene damaged your electric equipment can be found here- https://www.cfec.com/outage-center/hurricane-helene-damage-information/

Hurricane Helene Update 9/30 

We are ready and determined to push forward as another day of restoration efforts begins. Thanks to the incredible dedication and hard work of our crews overnight and this morning, we've now restored power to over 24,000 members affected by Hurricane Helene.

We know how difficult it is to live without electricity, especially for those with medical needs or elderly members of our community. Please know we’re doing everything we can to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. Every available resource is focused on this goal.

Current Restoration Progress by County:

• Levy County: Approximately 3,971 members remain without power. We expect to restore power to members who can safely receive it by Wednesday, October 2 at 9 PM.
• Dixie County: Approximately 4,119 members remain without power. We anticipate restoring power to those who can safely receive it by Wednesday, October 2 at 9 PM.
• Gilchrist County: Approximately 3,480 members remain without power. Power is expected to be restored to those who can safely receive it by Thursday, October 3 at 12 PM noon.
• Alachua County: At this time, 283 members remain without power. Power is also expected to be restored to those who can safely receive it by Thursday, October 3 at 12 PM noon.

Thank you for your continued patience and support as we work together to rebuild and restore. Please keep reporting outages or damages, and we will keep you updated on our progress.

Hurricane Helene Update 9/29

Reminder: All CFEC Offices will remain closed until further notice as we focus on restoring power to CFEC Members.

Estimated Time of Restoration by County:

• Dixie County: As the county closest to Helene's direct path, Dixie has faced some of the most severe damage, with downed trees and significant impacts to the electrical system. Approximately 1,300 meters remain offline due to flooding and are currently unable to safely accept power. For the rest of the county, we anticipate restoration for those who can safely receive power by Wednesday, October 2 at 9 PM. Despite the extensive damage, our crews are pushing forward to meet the restoration deadline.

• Yankeetown/Inglis: Much like Cedar Key, crews are still working their way into Yankeetown and Inglis, where flooding has caused significant challenges. We are collaborating with homeowners and county officials to prioritize critical infrastructure and develop further restoration plans. Progress is underway, but the situation remains fluid as we navigate the complexities of the area.

Hurricane Helene Update 9/29 10 a.m.

Our crews worked tirelessly throughout the night across the service area, and we continue to make significant progress. As of this morning, over 18,000 members have had their power restored, with more being brought back online by the minute.

We understand how frustrating it can be if you haven’t seen crews in your area yet, but please know that no one is being forgotten. In a recovery effort of this scale, we must focus on restoring outages that impact the largest number of members first, but we are committed to reaching every single location.

This is not just a repair job—it's a complete rebuild of our electric system in many areas. The damage is widespread and severe, with some members having lost homes and businesses, and sadly, lives have been lost across the state. Our thoughts are with all those affected as we continue the hard work of rebuilding.

Behind the scenes, we are finalizing field assessments to plan for the remaining restoration effort. We hope to provide Estimated Times of Restoration (ETRs) to those still without power soon.

We now have nearly 850 sets of boots on the ground working to restore power to our members. Even if you don’t see trucks in your neighborhood yet, it doesn’t mean work isn’t happening downline. Please remember that this is an enormous effort, and it’s taking time, but we are committed to getting everyone back online as quickly and safely as possible.

Thank you for your continued patience, compassion, and support. Our community is strong, and together we will overcome the challenges left in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

• If your meter pole or meter can has been damaged by Hurricane Helene, please report this damage to CFEC and we will send crews to safety disconnect the meter and make notes of the damage. More information on what to do if Hurricane Helene damaged your electric equipment can be found here- https://www.cfec.com/outage-center/hurricane-helene-damage-information/

Crews have been working tirelessly, day and night, rain or shine, to clear the massive amounts of debris, downed trees, and broken poles caused by Hurricane Helene. We’re making significant progress in assessing the damage and planning out the next steps of our restoration efforts.

As of 11 a.m. this morning, power has been restored to over 11,160 CFEC members. We currently have over 600 sets of boots on the ground, working around the clock to repair damage across our service area. Crews have also been able to restore much of our most important infrastructure, including initial repairs to substations and transmission facilities. In addition, more than 50+ additional crews will arrive this weekend to assist in the restoration efforts.

For those still without power, we understand how hot, uncomfortable, and frustrating it is. While we know you want to know when your power will be restored, providing estimated restoration times (ETRs) at this stage simply isn’t possible. This is not just a repair job—it’s a full-scale rebuild of our electric system after a catastrophic, deadly storm.

Right now, our teams are working hard to complete the necessary assessments that will allow us to provide accurate ETRs. As we continue to make progress and gain a clearer picture of the damage in each area, we will begin sharing those estimates as soon as possible. We know this information is important to you, and we are prioritizing it in our ongoing restoration efforts.

Restoration will be an extended process, and we urge everyone to practice compassion. Many of our neighbors have lost homes, businesses, and more. This will take the entire community coming together to recover.

CFEC is committed to working nonstop until every member has power restored. We appreciate your continued patience and support as we tackle this monumental effort.

• If your meter pole or meter can has been damaged by Hurricane Helene, please report this damage to CFEC and we will send crews to safety disconnect the meter and make notes of the damage. More information on what to do if Hurricane Helene damaged your electric equipment can be found here- https://www.cfec.com/outage-center/hurricane-helene-damage-information/

Hurricane Helene Update 9/27

The devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Helene is extensive, affecting homes, businesses, and our entire electric system across all counties we serve. Today, the first full day after the storm, our crews made incredible progress assessing damages and beginning the restoration process.

Assessing the full scope of the damage is a critical and time-consuming step, but necessary to ensure an efficient restoration effort. Unfortunately, many members are dealing with severe damage, from completely destroyed homes and businesses to downed trees and debris impacting properties.

Since crews began restoration efforts, they have already restored power to over 4,000 members, and they will continue working nonstop to restore service to every meter. However, with the widespread damage and the complex logistics involved, it is not yet possible to provide estimated restoration times for specific areas.

As we gather more information and make progress, we will share updates and provide ETAs when possible. We deeply appreciate your patience during this difficult time. We understand the challenges of being without power in this heat, and we are committed to restoring service as quickly and safely as possible.

If your meter pole or meter can has been damaged by Hurricane Helene, please report this damage to CFEC and we will send crews to safety disconnect the meter and make notes of the damage. More information on what to do if Hurricane Helene damaged your electric equipment can be found here- https://www.cfec.com/outage-center/hurricane-helene-damage-information/

Hurricane Helene Update 9/27 7:18 a.m.

Hurricane Helene made landfall around Perry, Florida at 11:10 p.m. as a Category 4 Hurricane, making it one of the strongest hurricanes to hit the Big Bend area of Florida.

The storm has caused significant damage across our service area, resulting in widespread power outages. Our crews are working around the clock to restore service as safely and quickly as possible. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this challenging time. As we begin restoration, be on the lookout and stay away from any down power lines and never drive over them or near them! Power lines can likely still carry an electric current strong enough to cause serious injury or possibly death. To report a down power line, please call 1-800-227-1302. All CFEC offices will remain closed as we focus on storm recovery efforts.

To report an outage:

• Visit our Outage Center here on the website
• Through our Power Partner App
• Call 1 (800)-227-1302

CFEC also has additional support crews in place ready to assist during restoration. Alongside our CFEC workers, you may see crews with different logos from:

• Xylem Tree Experts
• Baird Tree Service
• Right of Way Tree Experts, LLC
• Florida Forest Service
• Musgrove Construction
• Utility Lines Construction Services
• Asplundh Construction
• Tempest Energy, LLC
• Pike Electric
• OneSource Restoration
• Southeastern ChemTreat
• Lee County Electric Cooperative
• Conexon
• Bigham Cable Construction
• Benton Technical Services

Attention CFEC Members:

Wednesday, 9/25 12:11pm- Central Florida Electric Cooperative (CFEC) is fully prepared and monitoring Hurricane Helene, which is expected to rapidly intensify as it moves through the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. At this time, all CFEC offices will be closing today 09/25 at 5 p.m. until further notice. As we continue to prepare for Hurricane Helene, all forms on our website regarding new services, bank draft applications and outdoor lights will temporarily be disabled. CFEC urges our Members to prepare now for life-threatening impacts like storm surge, flooding, and extended power outages, which could affect areas hundreds of miles from the storm's center. Read more on CFEC's response to Hurricane Helene here- CFEC Prepares for Hurricane Helene – Central Florida Electric Cooperative

• For updates on outages and CFEC's response to the storm, follow this page and our Facebook page- Central Florida Electric Cooperative, Inc.
• To report an outage, visit our outage center page, call (800)-227-1302 or through our Power Partner app.
• Payments can still be made through
  • CFEC Member Portal billing.cfec.com
  • Power Partner App
  • By calling 800-227-1302
• If you or someone you love has disabilities or medical needs that depend on electricity, it's crucial that you register for the special needs registry at https://snr.flhealthresponse.com.