For Immediate Release
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Atlantic City Electric Encourages Customers to Review Plans, Check Supplies
MAYS LANDING, N.J . - Today marks the start of the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Atlantic City Electric reminds customers that it's time to prepare for the possibility that destructive tropical weather could hit the region any time between now and November 30. This year, meteorologists are predicting an above-normal hurricane season with up to 18 named storms, with six to 10 becoming hurricanes and three to six turning into major hurricanes.
"Southern New Jersey is a peninsula bounded on one side by the Delaware River and by the Atlantic Ocean on the other side - making us susceptible to these massive storms that can bring torrential rains, flooding and destructive winds," said Thomas Born, Manager Emergency Management. "We strongly encourage customers to take steps and prepare for any emergency." A few basic steps taken now will pay off when bad weather hits, he said, not only during hurricanes but during severe summer thunderstorms.
Here are a few important steps:
1. Keep Atlantic City Electric emergency numbers accessible to report outages or wires down. For outages, call 1-800-833-7476.
2. Make sure Atlantic City Electric has the latest phone number registered in our automated Outage Management System, to identify your location and quickly locate the source of trouble. Customers can update numbers online at www.atlanticcityelectric.com or call Customer Care at 1-800-642-3780.
3. Prepare an emergency kit, including a flashlight, battery-powered radio, fresh batteries, essential medication, nonperishable food, and enough fresh water to last several days.
4. Develop a contingency plan. Decide what to do in the event of a lengthy power outage such as seeking temporary shelter with family or friends.
Atlantic City Electric employees participate in emergency drills in order to be prepared for the possibility of storm-related power outages. The company maintains supplies of essential equipment, such as poles, wires and transformers, and stays in contact with area utilities to arrange mutual assistance in case of a natural disaster.
Customers can visit our Web site to view outage information across the company's service territory. To see the outage maps, or for more information on preparing for power outages, go to www.atlanticcityelectric.com and click on Outages and Emergencies.
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Atlantic City Electric, a public utility owned by Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), provides safe, reliable and affordable regulated electric delivery services to more than 547,000 customers in southern New Jersey.