PSE&G Prepares for Another Winter Storm, Provides Tips for Customers
February 24 2010 - 6:58PM
PR Newswire (US)
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Public Service
Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), 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. The snow is predicted to begin late Wednesday evening or
early morning Thursday and continue through Friday afternoon. Heavy
snow and strong wind are expected. There also are flood warnings in
Burlington, Ocean, Monmouth counties. Accumulations of more than 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 & Gas Company (PSE&G)
CONTACT: Media Relations, Public Service Electric and Gas Company,
+1-973-430-7734 Fax: +1-973-733-2818, or Karen Johnson,
+1-973-430-7734 Web Site: http://www.pseg.com/
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