Pepco still working to restore power to hundreds after severe storms in DC and Maryland
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Some progress from Pepco on Sunday morning after this week’s severe storms, with just over 300 people still without power.
Child rescued after tree crashes into Prince George’s County home during storms
Down from thousands
What we know:
Those 300 without power are down from the thousands that were reported on Saturday. Pepco says the company restored about 90% of the roughly 76,000 customers that were impacted by Thursday night’s storms.
Crews of about 300–400 members are still working to remove trees from power lines, repair damage and replace snap poles. Full restoration is expected around 7 p.m. Sunday.
Why some customers may wait longer
Big picture view:
The utility said crews have moved beyond the largest outages and are now addressing smaller groups of customers and individual homes.
That work can take longer because crews must reach multiple locations to remove trees from power lines, repair damage and replace snapped poles, officials said.
Pepco said it is using 300 to 400 internal crew members and mutual-assistance contractors in its restoration effort.
How Pepco prioritizes restoration
What's next:
The utility said safety is its first priority. Crews typically work first to restore service to hospitals, nursing homes and customers who rely on medical devices, followed by police and fire stations.
Pepco then focuses on repairs that can restore service to the largest groups of customers before moving to smaller outages and individual homes.
Safety reminders for customers without power
What you can do:
Pepco urged people to stay at least 30 feet away from downed power lines and to avoid driving beneath trees or wires hanging over roads. Downed lines should be reported to the utility at 1-877-PEPCO-62 or through Pepco’s storm page and customer account tools.
The company also urged customers without air conditioning to go to a relative’s or neighbor’s home, a library or another cool location rather than remain for extended periods in a hot house.
Anyone using a generator should follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions and keep it well away from the home, Pepco said.
The Source: This article was written using information from Pepco.