Thunderbolt Networks is now providing electrical services for Charlotte County Public Schools, bringing lighting upgrades and infrastructure improvements to campuses throughout the district.
Supporting Charlotte County Public Schools
CCPS operates dozens of schools and administrative buildings across Charlotte County. These facilities serve thousands of students and staff every day, and keeping them safe, functional, and well-lit is a year-round effort.
Our work with the district has focused on areas that directly impact safety and daily operations. When parking lots are dark, when exterior fixtures are out, when aging infrastructure needs attention—that’s where we come in.
Parking Lot and Exterior Lighting
The lighting situation at some campuses was more serious than most people realize. Several parking lots had no functioning lights at all. Others had fixtures that were out, flickering, or producing weak light that barely reached the pavement. For schools with evening activities, Friday night sports, parent pickup, and early morning bus arrivals, dark parking lots create real risks.
We’re upgrading these facilities with commercial LED fixtures from Energy Harness, a lighting manufacturer based in Fort Myers. Energy Harness specializes in LED solutions for parking lots, warehouses, and commercial facilities—exactly the kind of high-output, durable fixtures these schools need.
The difference is immediate. Where there was darkness, there’s now even, bright coverage across the entire lot. Students walking to their cars after practice can see where they’re going. Parents picking up kids from evening events don’t have to navigate dark corners. Staff locking up at night have clear visibility around the building.
The LED fixtures are also built for Florida conditions. They handle the heat, humidity, and storms that wear down cheaper equipment. They also draw significantly less power than the old incandescent fixtures, which means lower utility costs for the district. And unlike the old lights that were constantly burning out, these LEDs will run for years before needing attention.
Parking lot lights typically sit 20 to 35 feet up on poles, which means most of this work happens from a bucket truck. We run our own F550 with a 41-foot insulated Altec boom, so we’re not waiting on rental equipment or scheduling around someone else’s availability. When a school needs lights fixed, we can get there and get it done. All work is permitted and performed to NEC standards under Florida EC license EC13012737.
Hurricane Ian Recovery
Some of this work traces back to Hurricane Ian in September 2022. The storm knocked out fixtures, damaged wiring, and left some lots completely dark. More than two years later, parts of that backlog are still being addressed.
We’re helping the district finish what needs to be done and bring these facilities back to where they should be. In many cases, this isn’t just about replacing damaged equipment—it’s an opportunity to upgrade to better, more resilient systems that will hold up when the next storm comes through.
Local Presence
Being based in Punta Gorda means we’re part of this community. Our team members live here, our kids go to these schools, and we understand what it takes to maintain electrical systems in Southwest Florida’s environment. The humidity, the salt air, the lightning, the hurricane seasons—we know how to build for it.
More campuses are on the schedule for the months ahead. Have a similar project? Get in touch.