Please be advised that Pepco is closely monitoring today’s winter storm. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning beginning at midnight and running through to 6pm Monday, March 3. We are expecting rain, then freezing rain and sleet throughout the night, with snow beginning on Monday. Heavy wet snow can weigh down tree limbs and bring them into contact with power lines, causing power outages. Wet snow can also adversely affect saturated soil and allow trees already weakened by previous storms to fall onto power lines and equipment to cause power outages. In addition to damaging the electric system, snow and ice may hamper crew efforts to reach substations and outage areas to make repairs. Outages can also occur due to drivers skidding into utility poles along icy and snow-covered roads. We have about 150 internal linemen and more than 450 contractors already working on its system who are available if needed. We have also participated in mutual assistance calls. We will wait until the storm is closer to evaluate our need for outside crews, but we are not releasing any crews. We will work around the clock to restore any outages that may occur, but customers need to be prepared for the possibility of power outages, especially given the forecast for cold temperatures. The company is in close contact with state and local emergency management agencies to ensure a coordinated community response.
Starting tonight Pepco Call Centers will be staffed and operational 24 hours a day through this event. Customers can report and track outages online at pepco.com or through our mobile app, available for download at http://www.pepco.com/mobileapp Safety is our No. 1 priority. We always urge our customers to stay clear of working crews and any wires hanging loose from poles or lying on the ground. Customers should always assume that downed wires are energized and avoid them.
Customers are asked to immediately report a downed wire by calling 1-877-PEPCO-62 (1-877-737-2662). We also ask customers to let us know if they lose their power. They can report outages by calling 1-877-PEPCO62, visiting pepco.com or through our mobile app, available for download at pepco.com/mobile app. It is important that customers report their outages and request a call back to verify their power has been restored.
Bates Area Civic Association 