PSE&G Prepares for Winter Storm - Provides Tips for Customers
February 09 2010 - 1:31PM
PR Newswire (US)
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Public Service
Electric and Gas (PSE&G) Company, New Jersey's largest electric
and gas utility, is closely monitoring weather conditions and has
its crews on standby now that the National Weather Service has
issued winter storm watches and warnings for all counties in New
Jersey, as well as the entire tri-state area. The snow is predicted
to begin late Tuesday evening and continue until Wednesday evening.
Heavy snow and wind are expected during the day on Wednesday.
Accumulations of up to 12 inches are possible in some areas.
PSE&G will have extra personnel and supplies on hand to assure
that electric and gas storm-related emergencies are handled safely
and promptly. Snow, by itself, does not pose a serious problem for
utilities, but heavy snow or icing can increase the possibility of
downed wires and associated power outages. Cars striking utility
poles can also cause wires to come down. And cold weather can
affect the number of calls we receive from customers with
insufficient or no heat. PSE&G uses an automated system to
handle customer calls as efficiently as possible. Customers who get
an automated response when calling PSE&G should not hesitate to
use it, as it is designed to route their calls to the right
destinations. The system also provides the option to speak directly
to a customer service representative. Customers are asked to use
this option if they are calling to report damage to wires,
transformers or poles. This will help PSE&G to restore power
more expeditiously. Depending on the severity of a winter storm,
response times for both electric and gas emergency services may be
longer than usual. In anticipation of possible storm conditions,
PSE&G offers the following tips: DOWNED POWER LINES
Accumulation of ice may weigh down power lines and as a result
cause power lines to come down. Downed wires may appear dead but
should always be considered "live." STAY AWAY FROM ALL DOWNED
LINES. Do not approach or drive over a downed line and do not touch
anything that it might be in contact with. Parents are urged to
check for downed wires in areas where their children might play and
to remind the children to stay far away from any wires. If a wire
falls on a vehicle, passengers should stay in the vehicle until
help arrives. To report a downed wire, call 1-800-436-PSEG and tell
PSE&G the nearest cross street. CUSTOMERS WITH LIFE-SUSTAINING
EQUIPMENT Individuals who rely on electricity to operate
life-sustaining electronic equipment, such as a respirator or
dialysis machine, should pre-register with PSE&G to receive
priority attention in the event of an outage. To request the
service, call PSE&G at 1-800-436-PSEG. They should also inform
their rescue squads and fire departments of their needs, in case of
emergency. Even though customers with life-sustaining equipment who
have registered with PSE&G will receive priority attention
during outages, they should also have emergency back-up equipment
on hand, since immediate restoration cannot be guaranteed. IF YOU
LOSE POWER First check your neighborhood. If you are the only one
without power, check your fuse box for tripped circuit breakers or
blown fuses. If that's not the problem, look outside at the wire
between your house and the utility pole. If it is down, report it
immediately to PSE&G. If you lose power: -- Throw a blanket
over appliances for added insulation. -- KEEP REFRIGERATOR AND
FREEZER DOORS CLOSED. Food will stay frozen between 36 and 48 hours
in a fully loaded freezer (24 hours in a half-full freezer). --
Know how to open your garage door without the electric opener. --
Remember, electric well and sump pumps will not operate. -- Unplug
all motor-driven appliances like refrigerators and freezers and
sensitive electronic equipment (like TVs, microwaves and computers)
to prevent a possible electrical overload when power is restored.
-- Leave one light switch on to indicate when power is restored.
HOW PSE&G RESTORES POWER TO CUSTOMERS In the event of an
outage, PSE&G's crews work around the clock to restore power to
customers. Their first concern is always health and safety. After a
heavy snowfall, customers should clear walkways so that our
employees can safely restore service. Crews work to restore power
to the largest numbers of customers first, taking into account
"priority" customers, such as hospitals, police stations, fire
stations, water and sewer facilities, communications facilities
(TV, radio, and telephone), and customers on life-sustaining
medical equipment. At the same time, the utility restores power to
homes and businesses, starting with the circuits serving the
largest number of customers. IF YOU USE A PORTABLE ELECTRIC
GENERATOR, CAREFULLY READ AND FOLLOW THE MANUAL THAT CAME WITH IT.
Be sure your generator is UL-approved, installed by a licensed
electrician and inspected by your local electrical inspector. There
must be a way to physically disconnect your generator from utility
lines. Customers who improperly install, operate or maintain a
generator are responsible for any injury or damage suffered by
themselves, their neighbors or utility workers. KEEP YOUR GAS METER
AND APPLIANCE VENTS CLEAR OF SNOW AND ICE You can help keep your
natural gas supply flowing by keeping your meter free of snow and
ice. If you are a natural gas customer whose gas meter is on the
outside of your home or business, please take the following
precautions: -- Clear snowdrifts away from the meter and piping. --
Do not pile snow on top of the gas meter or around its connecting
piping when you are shoveling your premises. -- Brush snow from the
meter and piping before a thick layer of ice builds up. Clear snow
from dryer vents to prevent fumes from backing up into your house.
CUSTOMERS WITH INSUFFICIENT OR NO HEAT In many cases, customers are
calling because of insufficient heat - their furnaces are working
but are having difficulty handling the lower temperatures. Although
the company is sensitive to customers' heating inquiries,
insufficient heat is not always caused by defective heating
equipment. The colder it is outside, the harder the heating system
must work to satisfy the same thermostat setting. The heat loss in
a home may exceed the output capacity of the heating system. At
times like this, the room temperature may not reach the thermostat
setting, especially if the thermostat is raised to a higher than
normal setting. Customers can comfort themselves by doing the
following: -- Seal up openings around and under doors and windows
-- Make sure all storm windows are down and tightly closed -- Lower
thermostats serving unused rooms -- Close dampers in unused
fireplaces -- Move furniture and drapes away from heating
registers, radiators, and baseboard element covers -- Open any
register or baseboard dampers -- Warm air systems - replace
dirty/clogged air filters -- Steam systems - check for sufficient
water levels in the sight glass GENERAL TIPS: Mother Nature can be
unpredictable. It's wise to have an emergency kit on hand year
round. Here are some things to include: -- A battery powered radio.
-- A corded telephone (cordless phones will not work if the power
is out) -- Flashlights and extra fresh batteries. -- A first-aid
kit. -- Bottled water and an adequate supply of non-perishable
food. -- A non-electric can opener. -- Matches and candles with
holders. -- Extra blankets and sleeping bags. -- A list of
emergency phone numbers, including PSE&G's Customer Service
line: 1-800-436-PSEG. Call this number to report power outages or
downed wires. Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G)
is New Jersey's oldest and largest regulated gas and electric
delivery utility, serving nearly three-quarters of the state's
population. PSE&G is the winner of the ReliabilityOne National
Achievement Award for superior electric system reliability.
PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group
Incorporated (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a diversified energy company
(http://www.pseg.com/). Want to know what's new at PSEG? Go to
http://www.pseg.com/getnews and sign up to have our press releases
and weekly environmental commentaries sent right to your inbox.
DATASOURCE: Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G)
CONTACT: Karen Johnson, +1-973-430-7734, for Public Service
Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) Web Site: http://www.pseg.com/
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