Tampa Electric raises equipment at Ruskin substation after Helene

By Apollo Beach-Ruskin Tribune staff · October 29, 2026 · 1 min read

AI-generated illustration of electrical substation transformers on raised platforms. — Illustrative AI-generated image of substation equipment on elevated supports; it does not depict Tampa Electric’s First Street Substation in Ruskin. The utility says it is raising critical equipment there after Hurricane Helene. AI-generated illustration / Surround Sound Media

Tampa Electric crews are raising critical equipment at the First Street Substation in Ruskin to protect it from future flooding.

The utility announced the work Oct. 28 in a post on X, citing lessons learned from Hurricane Helene's storm surge. "Hurricane Helene showed us how powerful storm surge can be," the company said. "We're putting those lessons to work."

Tampa Electric has not disclosed a timeline or specified which equipment is being elevated. The company said the project will strengthen grid reliability for the area served by the Ruskin substation.

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Megan O'Neill

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Megan published her first poem in the Sun Sentinel at the age of 11 and has been locked in ever since. She attended UF and FIU and has a degree in Communication Arts. Her professional background includes photography, editing, writing, translation, and graphic design. Megan enjoys learning language, art and vegan foods.