LCEC warns homeowners loss of electric could lengthen during hurricane season due to worker shortage

A nationwide crisis could prevent you from getting help during a storm.

Electric companies are warning consumers ahead of hurricane season it could take longer to get lights back on after a storm.

When storms strike, there’s the fear of loss, of life, home and electricity.

Lee County Electric Cooperative is warning its customers it might take longer to get power back on and blames it on the supply chain.

“We want to make sure customers are aware,” said Karen Ryan, public relations director for LCEC.

LCEC hasn’t increased their rates in more than a decade but the utility company fears this supply shortage could impact rates in the future.

Ryan said right now there are not enough workers to make the supplies utility companies need.

And there are also not enough truckers to get supplies delivered which is leading to even more problems.

“It’s very hard for us to imagine that there would ever be a day that a customer would call in and say I’m building a new house can you supply me with energy? And we may have to at some point say we can, but it’s going to take much longer than it would normally,” Ryan said.

Ryan said LCEC initially believed its problems would be temporary but not so much now.

“With the new construction projects if there is a project that can be delayed we are delaying it, so that we are in good shape when it comes into storm season,” Ryan said.