TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tampa Electric is hoping they restore power to all of the Tampa Bay area by the end of the day.

As of 4 a.m. on Thursday, 15,000 power outages were reported across the area, with the most in Seminole Heights.

8 On Your Side saw TECO crews show up to the area around N. Highland Ave and W. Idlewild Ave just past 8 a.m. where they were assessing damages and working on power poles.

TECO in Seminole Heights at 8:15 a.m.

If you’ve been out of the house in the last week, you were almost guaranteed to see power crews out working. Frederick Flesche did and said it’s important to recognize all of their hard work.

“The guy was working, they were directing traffic and I stopped and we said to them, you know, ‘We really appreciate everything’ and the guy just stopped and just looked at me like I gave him a 100 dollar bill. He said ‘Thanks we really appreciate that,’ said Flesche. “It’s just nice to let them know.”

TECO said essentially all Polk County customers had the lights back on Sunday.

Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco customers had their power restored Wednesday except for some harder-hit areas- like Seminole Heights.

Hurricane Milton is causing crews to completely rebuild infrastructure in some places, making it take longer to restore power.

“We know it’s frustrating and we wish it could be done more quickly but given the amount of damage that Milton inflicted on the service territory, and in order to do it safely, it just takes time,” said Archie Collins, TECO President, and CEO.

To report an outage with TECO, customers can:

  • Visit their website.
  • Text OUT to 27079
  • Call 1-877-588-1010

TECO crews and other power companies brought in from out-of-state have been working 24/7 since Hurricane Milton to restore power to the hundreds of thousands of people who lost it.

A couple of weeks ago, more than 100 linemen left for Georgia to help restore their power there, after restoring power in Tampa Bay after Hurricane Helene.

They were only gone a few days before returning early in the wake of Hurricane Milton, to be here for their hometown.

“This is why I got into it,” said TECO Lineman Apprentice Trey Holden. “I mean this is the really rewarding part.”

You can see updates on power outages by following this link here.