Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G), which was prepared for the heavy snow and sleet expected throughout its service territory on Feb. 17 and 18, anticipated broken tree limbs and wires, causing outages.
“While winter storm events are always challenging, we are prepared to respond safely and as quickly as possible to restore power,” said Jack Bridges, PSE&G’s vice president for electric operations. “We encourage our customers to prepare for the forecast storm and contact us immediately if they experience power outages. We thank customers in advance for their patience.”
PSE&G has additional personnel ready to respond, and is performing system and logistics checks to ensure the availability of critical materials, fuel and other supplies.
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. Here are some of the safety tips that the company shared with its customers to stay safe during and after the storm.
1. Maintain distance from working crews. PSE&G asked its customers to remain in their homes while crews were working nearby.
"If customers must speak with our crews, we ask that they practice responsible physical distancing, and remain at least 6 ft away to ensure the health of everyone involved," the company stated.
2. Consider downed wires live. The company told its customers to stay at least 30 ft away from downed power lines, and immediately call 911 to report downed wires or call PSE&G. Because electric current passes easily through water, customers should stay away from downed power lines and electrical wires and not drive over or stand near them.
3. Stay clear of hidden hazards. Downed lines will be hard to see in the snow and can potentially be hidden in standing water. If customers encounter large pools of slush or standing water, they should stop, back up and choose another path.
4. Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Do not run any gasoline-powered generators in a garage or any other enclosed space.
For more storm safety tips that you can pass along to your own customers, click here.
