Duke Energy did not fulfill its self-imposed midnight Friday deadline to bring power back to its customers in Pinellas County and that has St. Petersburg mayor Rick Kriseman extremely disappointed.
“I am extremely disappointed that Duke Energy’s self-imposed midnight deadline will pass without power being restored to all of St. Pete,” Kriseman wrote on Facebook after the deadline passed. “The information provided to me by Duke Energy’s CEO and other executives throughout the week gave me the confidence to be patient, and as such, I had encouraged the same from our residents.”
In a statement released Friday night, Duke Energy said that they now hope to have power restored in Pinellas and Pasco Counties by midnight Saturday. Some of the hardest hit areas still without power include Venetian Isles, Snell Isle, Treasure Island, Pasadena, Lake Seminole, the Disston area, Bardmore, North Clearwater Beach and
The mayor went on to say that it was “irresponsible” for the investor-owned utility to give false hope to residents who are now going through a sixth day without power, he says they he has requested a meeting with Duke Energy officials soon to “ensure St. Petersburg is better served moving forward.”
Kriseman announced that in the interim, he is opening the Childs Park, Fossil Park, and J.W. Cate Recreation Centers from 10:00 a.m. through 10:00 p.m. Saturday to give people in the community a place to cool off while they wait for their power to return.
