Neighbors’ faces light up as TECO joins the Tampa Police Department in the community

You might think that in light – pun intended – of a recent honor for TECO’s Judy Robbins by the Tampa Police Department, Tampa Electric would have strong momentum to keep up efforts to ensure that Tampa residents have brighter, safer streets.

You would be correct.

TECO’s Light Up the Night program is a $2.2 million  five-year initiative with the City of Tampa to encourage residents to keep their porch lights on overnight as a way to deter crime. And while the safety and security goals behind this plan to add 8,400 new streetlights – expanding the current Tampa network by 30 percent – are important, so is saving energy.

That’s where Tampa Electric and Robbins, industrial account manager, come in, with energy-efficient light bulbs (which use 75 percent less energy) that officers are giving out door-to-door for free to homeowners. Robbins serves as TECO’s liaison who helps ensure that police officers have the supplies they need to make the program a success.

In a recent media release, Police Chief Eric Ward praised the partnership between TECO and the department.

“This is a great example of how police-community relations work in our city,” Ward said. “The police department identified a public safety concern and we worked with our business community members to help create a solution. Now, thanks to TECO’s generosity we are able to hand out free light bulbs to residents who live in particularly dark areas as part of our action plan for addressing overnight crimes.”

Robbins, for her part, is proud to be on the front lines of Tampa Electric’s commitment to the community – a commitment that covers multiple positive activities at once.

“We’re part of the neighborhoods we serve just like our customers, and we all have a stake in creating brighter, safer streets,” Robbins said. “It’s an honor to be part of this program and to see TPD’s crime-reduction efforts flourish.”

She added, “The fact that we’re helping people save energy as they increase safety is like the candle on top – or in this case, the CFL light bulb.”