Company Continues to Restore Service After Severe Flooding, Wicked Winds & Lightning
A strong storm with damaging winds, lightning and severe flooding moved through the region today creating widespread damage and interrupting electric service to 51,000 PECO customers. As of 4 p.m. the company has restored service to more than 24,000 customers.
The company has activated its entire emergency response organization, with hundreds of employees and contractors working around the clock to repair damage and restore service to customers. Because of the extent of the damage, some customers could remain without service until late tomorrow. Currently, about 27,000 customers are without power. Specifically:
BUCKS = 4,800
CHESTER = 4,000
DELAWARE = 6,500
MONTGOMERY
= 3,100
PHILADELPHIA = 8,300
PECO urges customers to be safe and stay away from flooded areas, downed power lines and potentially damaged equipment. Customers always should assume that PECO equipment is energized, even if there is a neighborhood power outage. PECO also reminds customers not to enter basements that are flooded - water at certain levels can be energized and also damage indoor natural gas meters and extinguish natural gas pilots.
Customers experiencing any electric or natural gas problems should call 1-800-841-4141 immediately. By calling to report any problems as soon as possible, customers can help PECO more accurately dispatch crews and restore service faster.
Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC). PECO serves 1.6 million electric and 485,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania and employs about 2,400 people in the region. PECO delivered 83.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 39.4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2008.Founded in 1881, PECO is one of the Greater Philadelphia Region's most active corporate citizens, providing leadership, volunteer and financial support to numerous arts and culture, education, environmental, economic development and community programs and organizations.
If you are a member of the media and would like to receive PECO news releases via e-mail please send your e-mail address to PECO.Communication@exeloncorp.com
Contacts:
PECO, An Exelon Company
Cathy Engel, 215-841-5555
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