August 28, 2011
PSE&G Hurricane Irene Update: Aug. 28, 2011 at 4:30 p.m.
Approximately 392,000 PSE&G customers are without power at this time statewide. The number of outages continues to climb as flooding impacts the region. PSE&G has 6,000 employees supporting the restoration effort including 840 PSE&G linemen, 270 out-of-state linemen, an additional 50 crews that have now joined the effort from Ohio, and 540 tree contractors. The crews are working around the clock, but customers should be prepared for potentially lengthy outages.
In addition to widespread electric outages, the heavy rain and storm surge may result in gas outages. Water could enter the utility’s gas distribution system, as well as flood customers’ basements and gas appliances. Customers are reminded to call PSE&G to report gas odors and to contact their local municipal officials for direction and assistance in pumping water out of their basements.
FLOODED BASEMENTS
Flooded basements can pose a genuine safety risk. Customers should be cautious:
•If they lose electricity and their basement is flooded, notify PSE&G (1-800-436-PSEG (7734) and call their municipality. Stay away from the breaker box if it's in a flooded basement. And don’t go into a flooded basement if energized wires are present.
•If water is rising to the height of any gas appliance, the gas supply to the appliance should be turned off. If customers are unable to do so, they should contact PSE&G or their local police or fire department for assistance. To restore gas service to appliances call PSE&G (1-800-436-7734) and have the appliances checked for safety and restored to proper operation.
•Customers should call PSE&G (1-800-436-PSEG (7734) immediately if they smell gas.
GENERATORS
Customers who use portable electric generators should 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.
To report a power outage, call PSE&G’s Customer Service line: 1-800-436-PSEG (7734).
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.
Customers with a handheld device, or who are at an alternate location with power, can also report power outages and view the status of their outage by logging in to My Account at pseg.com. General outage activity throughout our service territory is available online at
www.pseg.com/outagecenter and updates are posted on pseg.com during severe weather.
We have activated our Twitter page to keep the public informed about our restoration progress. Sign up as a follower at
http://twitter.com/psegoutageinfo.
** The next update will be about 7:30 p.m.
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 (
www.pseg.com).