Severe Winter Weather Can Cause Outages, Allegheny Power Reminds Customers to be Prepared

Severe winter weather can happen any time, resulting in damage to our electrical system. Although our crews are prepared for such weather, some power outages can not be avoided. Allegheny encourages its customers to prepare for severe weather by assembling a storm emergency kit.

A typical storm emergency kit should include: flashlights and/or lanterns, a battery-powered radio, extra batteries, water for drinking and cooking, and a supply of canned and other non-perishable foods. Remember that cordless phones do not work when the power is off, so have a fully charged cell phone or a corded phone available.

Customers who suffer from health problems or are dependent on home medical equipment should make arrangements for shelter some place other than their homes. In addition, prescription medications should be filled prior to the arrival of an expected winter storm.

Heavy, wet snow and ice can knock down power lines. Never touch a downed power line or any object that is in contact with one. Always assume that fallen wires are energized and keep at least 10 feet away from them. Pay particular attention to children or pets that may be in the area to make sure that they stay away from downed lines as well.

For electrical emergencies and outages, call us at 1-800-Allegheny (1-800-255-3443) 24 hours a day. To report an outage, simply say “power outage.” For other electrical emergencies, say “hazard.”

If the power goes out:

• Turn off major appliances (heat pumps, water heaters, stoves, etc.) and unplug sensitive electronic equipment (TVs, computers, microwaves, etc.) to prevent a possible overload when power is restored.
• Leave one light on so you can tell when power is restored.
• Open refrigerators and freezers as little as possible to keep contents cold.
• Make sure the area is adequately ventilated prior to using portable stoves or lanterns.
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions when using a generator. Appliances should be connected directly to the generator using properly sized extension cords. If the generator is wired into the home's electrical system, a double-throw transfer switch is required to prevent voltage from going out on power lines and endangering Allegheny Power crews.

Tips for keeping warm:

• Stay indoors in the warmest area of the house.
• Bundle up—wear layers of clothing and use blankets. You can also wear hats and gloves.
• If you are planning to use any type of indoor heater, like wood stoves or kerosene heaters, make sure that the room you are using them in is adequately ventilated. Also, make sure that the flue of your fireplace is working properly.

Allegheny Power's comprehensive storm plan allows it to quickly mobilize crews and equipment to respond to storm-related outages, redeploying company and contractor crews within its service area on short notice to focus extra resources in affected areas. In addition, Allegheny Power can also request assistance from other electric utility companies as part of mutual aid agreements.

In restoring service, Allegheny Power gives priority to hospitals, police departments and other services essential to health and safety. Allegheny Power begins restoring power by focusing first on transmission lines, main distribution lines and substations. This restores power to the largest number of customers as quickly as possible. Once substations and transmission and main distribution lines are repaired, Allegheny Power concentrates all of its crews on restoring service to tap lines and service wires for individual homes and businesses.

It is also important to remember that conditions such as deep snow, ice and impassable roads can make it difficult, and in some cases impossible, for meter readers to read electric meters on their normal schedule. In addition, meter readers are occasionally utilized to assist with restoration of service during severe outage events. When this occurs, your bill may be estimated. Extra energy may also be needed to reheat a home that has been without heat for more than a few days. Either of these issues may result in higher bills than expected.

As always, it is important to read and understand your bill. If you feel your bill has been estimated inaccurately, you have the option to read the meter yourself. If your reading is off by more than a few kilowatt-hours, you can report your actual reading by calling 1-800-Allegheny (1-800-255-3443).

For more information about making preparations for power outages caused by winter storms, call 1-800-Allegheny (1-800-255-3443) and request a copy of our “What to Do if the Lights Go Out” brochure, or visit our Web site at www.alleghenypower.com.

Allegheny Energy

Headquartered in Greensburg, Pa., Allegheny Energy, Inc. (NYSE: AYE) is an investor-owned electric utility with total annual revenues of over $3 billion and more than 4,000 employees. The company owns and operates generating facilities and delivers low-cost, reliable electric service to 1.5 million customers in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland. For more information, visit our Web site at www.alleghenyenergy.com.