Thousands in St. Petersburg experienced a power outage in the downtown area last night. Duke Energy confirmed the incident, estimating that approximately 6,000 customers were affected, though earlier reports from FOX 13 indicated the number could have reached 22,000. Efforts to restore power are underway, with teams working to repair and reroute electricity to the affected areas. Duke Energy stated, "Crews will continue working through the night until all service in the downtown St Pete area is restored."
The impact stretched over several neighborhoods, including Beach Drive, Historic Old Northeast, Snell Isle, Crescent Heights, Shore Acres, Venetian Isles, Placido Bayou, and up to Harbor Isle, detailed a 10 Tampa Bay report. Despite the widespread disruption, Duke Energy managed to restore power by 11:30 p.m., a rapid response given the circumstances and the initial number of residents affected.
According to Spectrum Bay News 9, Duke Energy remarked, "Our main priority is getting power restored for our customers. We apologize for the inconvenience the outage may have caused," acknowledging the discomfort faced by those impacted by the unexpected outage, the company also reminded customers that updates specific to their area are available on Duke Energy's outage map.
While power has been restored, the cause of the blackout remains unknown. Duke Energy has not yet disclosed details about the cause, leaving residents without information on the root of the issue, despite the restoration of electricity following the overnight incident.
