[RP TownTalk] Heavy wind forecast, Pepco plans (and how to call)

[Alan K. Thompson]

Greetings,

I just received this press release from Pepco about their planned response
to the high winds expected this weekend.  It includes information on how to
call in a power outage, and what to expect as Pepco responds to power
outages.

Alan Thompson

*
*

*Pepco Prepares for New Wave of Battering Winds in Metro Area*

***Pepco Schedules Extra Crews through the Weekend*

* *

WASHINGTON – Today the Washington Metropolitan Region braces for the second
round of battering winds in less than one week. Weather predictions call for
high winds across the Washington Metropolitan Area starting Saturday
morning. Periods of sustained winds near 35 miles per hour with gusts around
55 miles per hour are possible Saturday from about midday into the early
evening.

Pepco is prepared in the event tree limbs and branches fall on utility wires
causing possible power outages.

“Pepco is scheduling additional crews including contractors through the
weekend,” said Thomas Graham, President, Pepco Region. “We continue to watch
this wind event. Our crews will respond to any challenges that this storm
presents.”

*To report Power Outages and Downed Wires Call 1-877-737-2662.*

If you are calling to report a power outage, please call 1-877-Pepco-62
(1-877-737-2662) and press one. If you are reporting a life threatening
emergency situation such as a burning downed wire please call 1-877-Pepco-62
(1-877-737-2662) and press two.

The option for reporting an actual life threatening emergency should NOT be
used to report an outage, as it will prevent customers with actual
emergencies from getting through.

Please stay away from downed wires and report them immediately. Customers
also are asked to call Pepco to report outages – even if their neighbors
already may have called. Pepco’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.

*Power Restoration Process – How Pepco Restores Power*

Once the storm subsides, crews will survey the electric system to assess the
damage. As with plowing roads, it is not possible to clear side streets
before the main roads are cleared. To that end, in the event our system is
damaged by severe weather, Pepco repairs equipment that will restore the
largest numbers of customers first. 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
   -

   Service lines to individual homes and businesses

*Pepco urges customers to stay safe and be prepared. Here are some
additional tips:*

   -

   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 information may be found at *www.pepco.com*.

###



 *Pepco, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), delivers safe,
reliable and affordable e**lectric service to more than 778,000 customers in
Maryland and the District of Columbia.*
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