One of the most-asked questions following a tropical storm or hurricane is, ‘When are my lights going to come back on?’

Gulf Power is working to keep outages following storms to a minimum. It’s called reliability and it’s a big part of providing good customer service.

That’s why the company started a project in the Niceville/Valparaiso area to strengthen an important power line that runs along a three-mile stretch of U.S. 20. It’s part of a plan to meet state-mandated wind codes.

The power line starts at the Gulf Power substation in Valparaiso and continues along John Sims Parkway to the CITGO Fuel Depot, which is another critical system to provide gasoline for residents along the Gulf Coast.

Approximately 23 concrete power poles will be installed, while the other wooden poles will be replaced or strengthened. All poles will be replaced within a few feet of the existing poles and some anchors will be added.

“Reliability of our electric distribution system, especially during major storms, is a priority at Gulf Power. This work will enhance the backbone of our system in the Niceville area,” said Sandy Sims, Gulf Power Public Affairs manager. “This will help us keep the lights on.”

Work started in early May and is expected to be completed by mid-June. There will be minimal outages as poles are changed out, and night work will be conducted so businesses along the way can remain open during the day.

Gulf Power has contacted customers and landowners along the route to inform them of the project.

Reliability is important every day of the year for Gulf Power.

·         Gulf Power has a vegetation management process to reduce service interruptions because of trees and other plant life. The company inspects and trims trees and also removes “danger” trees, which pose an immediate threat to power outages.

·         The company works on placing lightning arresters on power lines to protect its equipment and lines from lightning, which is a major cause of outages in the spring and summer.

·         Animals are the No. 1 cause of outages. Gulf Power uses “squirrel guards,” which are placed around the energized parts of power lines to deter animals from getting too close and causing an outage.

Gulf Power Company is an investor-owned electric utility with all of its common stock owned by Atlanta-based Southern Company. The company is a tax-paying utility with rates well below the national average. Gulf Power serves more than 400,000 customers in 10 counties throughout Northwest Florida. Our mission is to safely deliver affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible energy to very satisfied customers in strong communities.