MAYS LANDING, N.J. (Nov.3, 2016) - As temperatures begin to dip, Atlantic City Electric (ACE) has been hard at work completing projects and making preparations to help ensure the company's electric grid is ready to meet the energy needs of its customers all winter long.

Atlantic City Electric is committed to enhancing its energy infrastructure. Over  the past five years, ACE has spent more than $700 million on new technology, system upgrades and expansions to modernize the electric system and help protect it against weather events.

Atlantic City Electric has performed reliability upgrades and system improvements on approximately 210 electric circuits. These are higher voltage lines that distribute electricity to customers. ACE has upgraded hundreds of miles of wire, replaced hundreds of poles, and installed automated switching technology on dozens of electric circuits designed to isolate outages and restore power to customers quicker. In addition, the company has upgraded four substations with new equipment, circuit breakers and transformers, and built three new substations in Avalon, Cape May County, Franklin Township, Gloucester County and the City of Port Republic, Atlantic County. 

The company has also implemented a comprehensive vegetation management plan and has spent more than $40 million over the last three years on tree trimming and associated vegetation management work along nearly 5,200 miles of power lines to help prevent outages.

"Seasonal readiness work is essential in enhancing our energy grid and reducing the potential for service interruptions caused by stormy weather," said Vince Maione, Atlantic City Electric region president. "We plan to continue to make investments over the next several years to upgrade and modernize our electric infrastructure as well as trimming trees and other preventative maintenance work to further improve service reliability for our customers."

As Atlantic City Electric prepares for winter, customers are reminded to prepare too.

Follow these helpful tips:

• Clean air vents around the house.
• Install storm windows and doors.
• Check weather stripping and caulking around windows and doors. 
• Install seals behind electrical outlets and switches along exterior walls. 
• If a portable generator is needed, follow the manufacturer's instructions and use only when necessary. 
• Don't overload a generator or operate it inside. 
• Improper use of a generator can cause fires, increased power outages, carbon monoxide poisoning and even death. 

Atlantic City Electric also reminds customers to test their heating system and have it inspected by a qualified technician. Regular service will ensure the heating system operates safely and efficiently for the season ahead. 

In addition, Atlantic City Electric provides a "Weathering the Storm Fact Sheet" that can be downloaded from its website atlanticcityelectric.com.

For more information about Atlantic City Electric, visit atlanticcityelectric.com. Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/atlanticcityelectricand on Twitter at twitter.com/acelecconnect.

Our mobile app is available at atlanticcityelectric.com/mobileapp.