High Winds Can Cause Power Outages, Downed Power Lines

NEWARK , Del. -- According to the National Weather Service, the Delmarva Power service territory will experience extreme windy conditions Saturday which could bring down power lines, tree limbs and result in power outages. Company officials are preparing for, and urging customers to prepare for, power outages in the event the windy weather does impact the electric system.

If Power Goes Out

Customers are asked to call Delmarva Power to report an outage, a gas emergency and/or they see a downed or damaged power line. The numbers to call are:

• Delaware: New Castle County: 1-800-898-8042; Kent and Sussex counties: 1-800-898-8045
• Maryland: Cecil and Harford counties: 1-800-898-8042; Eastern Shore: 1-800-898-8045
• To report a Delmarva natural gas emergency in New Castle County, Del.: 302-454-0317

Delmarva Power's automated outage reporting system is the most effective way to report an outage because it immediately feeds information into computers that rapidly identify problem areas and dispatch repair crews, so that power can be restored as quickly as possible.

• Generally, the power restoration sequence is as follows:
• Downed live wires or potentially life-threatening situations and public health and safety facilities without power;
• Transmission lines serving thousands of customers;
• Substation equipment;
• Main distribution lines serving large numbers of customers;
• Secondary lines serving neighborhoods; then
• Service lines to individual homes and businesses

Delmarva Power strongly urges everyone to follow these important safety tips:

• Stay away from downed lines and report them immediately.
• Never attempt to remove trees or limbs from any utility line. Assume all objects touching a power line are energized.
• If using a portable generator during a power outage, always operate it outside. Do not operate a portable generator near doors, windows or in garages to prevent deadly carbon monoxide from entering the house.
• Assemble an emergency storm kit. Include a battery-powered radio or television, flashlight, first-aid kit, battery-powered or windup clock, extra batteries, non-perishable food, manual can opener, bottled water, any necessary medications, and a list of emergency phone numbers.
• Maintain a supply of extra blankets.
• Ensure that all household members have a warm coat, gloves, hat and water-resistant boots.
• Make sure your home has a telephone with a cord or cell phone to use as a backup. Cordless telephones require electricity to operate and won't work if there is an outage.
• Identify a place for emergency shelter in case of an extended outage. It is important that customers with special needs or their caregivers take responsibility to make arrangements ahead of time to prepare for potentially long-lasting service interruptions.

Additional emergency preparedness and safety information may be found at www.delmarva.com

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Delmarva Power, a public utility owned by Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), provides safe and reliable energy to nearly 500,000 electric delivery customers in Delaware and Maryland and over 123,000 natural gas delivery customers in northern Delaware.