What Caused Fort Meade’s Power Outage? Plus, Utility Bills Will Fluxuate as City Moves to One Billing Cycle
A frog on electrical switchgear at the city’s substation is what caused the power outage that hit Fort Meade earlier this month, city officials said at a meeting with The Citrus Tea News on Oct. 7.
The city’s Oct. 5 notice to residents said Transformer 2 at the substation experienced a lockout at approximately 10 p.m., and crews switched the load to restore power. At the time, the city said the cause was unknown and that further testing would be done.
Once crews found the frog and isolated the problem, the load was switched to the other transformer and power was restored, according to Steve Doyle, the city’s interim electrical director. He said Fort Meade residents were without power for 20 minutes to an hour. No boil water notice was needed because water pressure stayed above 20 PSI, according to the city’s notice.
“This incident demonstrates the importance of having a second substation,” the notice states. It was signed by Doyle, Water and Sewer Director Evelyn Guffey and City Manager Troy Bell.
Utility Bills Moving to One Due Date
Fort Meade utility customers may see their bills fluctuate in the coming months as the city moves everyone to the same due date , Bell said.
The city currently bills customers on three different cycles. To align everyone on one cycle, bills will be prorated to the new due date, which may make some bills temporarily higher.
The city will be flexible with customers who see a temporarily higher bill during the change, Bell said. Customers with questions or who need to make special payment arrangements should call Fort Meade City Hall customer service at (863) 285-1100. The city’s 24-hour utility emergency line is (863) 285-1119.
A formal date for the change has not been announced, but it is likely to happen within the next couple of months, Bell said.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the Fort Meade power outage?
A frog on electrical switchgear at the city’s substation, city officials said. Crews isolated the problem and switched the load to the other transformer to restore power.
How long was Fort Meade without power?
Some residents were without power for 20 minutes to an hour, according to residents’ posts on social media.
Did Fort Meade issue a boil water notice after the outage?
No. Water pressure stayed above 20 PSI, so no boil water notice was required, according to the city.
Why will Fort Meade utility bills change?
The city is moving all customers from three billing cycles to one due date. Bills will be prorated to the new due date, so some may be temporarily higher.
When will the Fort Meade billing change happen?
A formal date has not been announced. City Manager Troy Bell said it will likely happen within the next couple of months.
Who do I call about a higher Fort Meade utility bill?
Call Fort Meade City Hall customer service at (863) 285-1100. Bell said the city will be flexible with customers whose bills are temporarily higher.
SOURCES: City of Fort Meade, notice to all residents on electric and water outage, Oct. 5, 2026; The Citrus Tea News, meeting with City Manager Troy Bell and city staff, Oct. 7, 2026; Fort Meade residents’ social media posts on the outage
