BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Monitor Editor
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Clay Electric Cooperative said Hurricane Ian caused widespread power outages in the co-op’s 14-county service territory on Sept. 28 and 29.
“At the height of the storm,” the co-op said in a news release, “about 30,000 accounts were without power. More than 70 percent of members had their lights back on in 24 hours and restoration was substantially complete on Sept. 30.”
The utility added that members in Lake, Marion, Putnam and Volusia counties experienced the most outages.
“The storm caused several individual outages that took longer to restore, and some areas had more extensive damage to repair,” Clay Electric said.
Outside crews from West Florida Electric Cooperative, Pike Electric and numerous contract crews assisted co-op personnel in the restoration process.
“We always prepare for the worst and hope for the best,” said Clay Electric General Manager/CEO Ricky Davis. “I’m proud of our crews’ swift power restoration efforts, and our hearts and prayers are with everyone who was not as fortunate as we were with the storm.”
