Storm Center | After a Storm

There are many ways to stay informed and up to date.

• Sign up for OUC Alerts: Keep informed of electric outages and water problems in your area via voice, text or email. You’ll also receive updates about the outage cause and estimated restoration time.
• Social media: Follow us on social media to get the latest updates and announcements via Facebook, Instagram or X.
• Check your inbox: During hurricanes and other severe weather events, OUC will keep customers up to date on restoration progress via email.

It can be frustrating, but there could be several reasons why others in your area have power while you do not.

• You may be on a different feeder or transformer.
• The service line to your home may have been damaged and need repairs before your home can be reconnected. OUC is responsible for repairing the service line and electric meter only.
• The weatherhead connection, where the electric lines meet the electric meter on your home, may have been damaged. The customer is responsible for having a licensed electrician repair the weatherhead and meter base and have a city or county inspection before we can restore power.

For help finding a licensed electrician, visit OUC’s Preferred Contractor Network.

Storm events can cause damage that may prevent your power from being restored even though OUC has made all the necessary repairs to circuits in your area. We recommend you verify the following to determine if repairs are needed.

• Check Circuit Breakers: Find the breaker panel in your home and turn off every breaker. Then, reset the main breaker, which may be located outside near your electric meter. Return to the breaker panel inside your home and turn each breaker back to the on position.
• Check Your Weatherhead: A weatherhead is a rounded, water-proof cap where overhead electrical service cables connect with a home and run to the meter. If you live in an older Orlando neighborhood with overhead powerlines, you may have one on your house. Your weatherhead or meter base may have been damaged during a storm. OUC is responsible for maintaining the service cable from the utility pole to the weatherhead, but not the weatherhead itself.

A licensed electrician will need to answer this for you. It could be that you need repairs to the electric meter box, conduit or wires were underwater, bent or broken, or water rose above electrical outlets. This is not a comprehensive list, and you should contact a licensed electrician for an assessment.

Never touch damaged equipment yourself. It is possible that no damage happened and repairs do not need to be made. If this is the case, the inspector will make that determination. For help finding a licensed electrician, visit OUC’s Preferred Contractor Network.

Once the flood water recedes from your home or business, you MUST take the following steps before OUC can safely restore power:

1. Contact your local government to schedule an inspection. The inspector will determine if repairs are needed in the home/business.
   • City of Orlando: (407) 246-2271
   • Orange County: (407) 836-5558
2. If repairs are needed, we recommend you hire a licensed electrician to make repairs to your home or business and then contact your local government to complete the inspection process.
3. When the final inspection is performed and the home/business is cleared for restoration, your local government will let OUC know.
4. OUC will attempt to restore power within 24 to 48 hours of notification.

While some customers may not be able to receive power to their homes because of storm damage, we cannot guarantee that a house in a flooded area is de-energized. Therefore, customers must proceed with caution and follow appropriate protocols to ensure their safety.

That can happen because you are on the same line as the flooded homes. In order to ensure their safety, OUC had to turn off power to your home as well. OUC will disconnect power as soon as possible because it is a safety concern.