LCEC will join hundreds of organizations worldwide Wednesday, Nov. 20, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of GIS Day, honoring the transformative contributions of Geographic Information System (GIS); technology and the professionals behind it. Established in 1999, GIS Day recognizes the innovative power of GIS technology and those behind the scenes.

LCEC adopted the GIS technology since the late 1980s to manage and analyze data about electrical grids on digital maps. Before GIS, LCEC relied solely on paper maps to plot power lines, substations, transformers, and homes in the service territory.

Enhancing outage response and transparency

GIS allows LCEC to efficiently map and analyze the locations and causes of outages, enabling quick identification of affected areas and faster dispatching of repair crews. The implementation of a public facing outage map enhanced communication with members, providing real-time, accurate information, and increasing transparency.

Operational efficiency

GIS plays a vital role in the LCEC planning and maintenance efforts. By mapping infrastructure and identifying aging equipment, GIS predicts future needs based on growth patterns, ensuring proactive maintenance.

The technology plays a crucial role in reducing operational costs by optimizing the placement of resources, such as power lines and substations. GIS also enables LCEC to model scenarios, including hurricanes, improving preparedness, and response strategies. This minimizes service disruptions and further enhances reliability for members.

By embracing GIS, LCEC continues to provide more reliable, efficient, and cost-effective service to its members.

LCEC is Southwest Florida’s Electric Cooperative providing reliable, cost-competitive electricity to members throughout the region. The LCEC headquarters are in North Fort Myers, the same location where the cooperative originated in 1940. Approximately 430 skilled employees are positioned throughout the six-county service territory, including Immokalee, Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, Sanibel/Captiva, Pine Island, Ussepa, Cabbage Key, Marco Island, Everglades City, Ave Maria and parts of Lehigh Acres.