PSE&G is prepared for the prolonged rain and winds through tomorrow, which can also bring down trees and wires and cause flooding throughout the service area. Employees are performing system checks and prepping for any potential outages.
“In conditions like these, trees with compromised root systems can topple and we’re also concerned about flooding,” said Jack Bridges, vice president, Electric Operations. “We are staffed and ready to respond to issues as they arise. We encourage PSE&G customers to take safety precautions as well, paying particular attention to flood safety tips (pseg.com/Flood).”
If customers need to evacuate their homes or businesses due to flooding, when safe and possible, we encourage customers to turn off their electric and gas before leaving.
PSE&G prepares year-round for extreme weather to maintain reliable service for our customers. The utility has made significant infrastructure investments, including more than $1.7 billion in electric projects and approximately $821 million in gas projects from June 2020 to June 2021. The investments have strengthened the system so that fewer customers experience outages and, when they do occur, the duration is shorter, especially during extreme weather. One major effort this year involved adding more smart devices across the state to bolster safety, resiliency and reliability.
COVID-19-related storm processes have been adjusted to continue to keep the health and safety of employees and customers at the forefront, even during these unusual times.
The safety of PSE&G’s customers and employees is the company’s top priority. We ask that customers remain in their homes while crews are working nearby. If customers must speak with our crews, we ask that they practice responsible physical distancing, and remain at least 6 feet away to help ensure the health of everyone involved. For more information about how PSE&G continues to live up to its commitments during the pandemic, please visit pseg.com/COVID19.PSE&G thanks our customers for their patience as we operate under these unusual circumstances to safely restore power as quickly as possible.
Customers should prepare, be cautious and stay alert to their surroundings during and after storms. Review storm preparation tips at https://nj.pseg.com/safetyandreliability/stormsafety.
Customer safety:
· Downed wires should always be considered “live.” Stay at least 30 feet away from downed wires, and don’t go near the pole or anything touching the line. Immediately contact PSE&G, at 1-800-436-PSEG (7734)via mobile app or our website, to report downed wires and dial 911 if an immediate hazard exists.
· Electric current passes easily through water, so stay away from downed electrical wires. Don’t drive over – and don’t stand near – downed wires.
· Downed wires can potentially be hidden in standing water. If you encounter large pools of standing water, stop, back up and choose another path.
· To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, do not run any gasoline-powered generators in a garage or any other enclosed space.
If you are on life-sustaining medical equipment, ensure that you alert PSE&G in advance and notify your local police and fire departments. For more information, visit www.pseg.com/life.
