PSE&G Prepares for Hurricane Earl

MYFOXNY.COM - New Jersey's largest power company says it is ready to respond to Hurricane Earl.

Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) Company says it has all personnel available and is ensuring that additional supplies, such as poles and pole top equipment, are on hand to promptly respond and restore service should the storm create outages.

The utility is concerned that high winds might cause trees to brush up against power lines and lightning might damage trees or pole top equipment.

PSE&G uses an automated system to handle customer calls. The company says that customers who get an automated response when calling PSE&G should not hesitate to use it, as it is designed to route their calls to the right destinations.

The system also provides the option to speak directly to a customer service representative. Customers are asked to use this option if they are calling to report damage to wires, transformers or poles. This will help PSE&G to restore power more expeditiously.

In addition, if outages are widespread, the utility will activate its Twitter page to keep the public informed about our restoration progress. Sign up as a follower at http://twitter.com/psegoutageinfo to monitor restoration progress.

Depending on the severity of the storm, response times for both electric and gas emergency services may be longer than usual.
In anticipation of possible storm conditions, PSE&G urges customers to be aware of the following important points:

DOWNED POWER LINES
Downed wires may appear dead but should always be considered "live." Do not approach or drive over a downed line and do not touch anything that it might be in contact with. Parents are urged to check for downed wires in areas where their children might play and to remind the children to stay far away from any wires. If a wire falls on a vehicle, passengers should stay in the vehicle until help arrives. To report a downed wire, call 1-800-436-PSEG and tell PSE&G the nearest cross street.

CUSTOMERS WITH LIFE-SUSTAINING EQUIPMENT
Individuals who rely on electricity to operate life-sustaining electronic equipment, such as a respirator or dialysis machine, should pre-register with PSE&G to receive priority attention in the event of an outage. To request the service, call PSE&G at 1-800-436-PSEG. They should also inform their rescue squads and fire departments of their needs, in case of emergency. Even though customers with life-sustaining equipment who have registered with PSE&G will receive priority attention during outages, they should also have emergency back-up equipment on hand, since immediate restoration cannot be guaranteed.

IF YOU LOSE POWER
First check your neighborhood. If you are the only one without power, check your fuse box for tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses. If that's not the problem, look outside at the wire between your house and the utility pole. If it is down, report it immediately to PSE&G.

If you lose power:
· Throw a blanket over appliances for added insulation.
· KEEP REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER DOORS CLOSED. Food will stay frozen between 36 and 48 hours in a fully loaded freezer (24 hours in a half-full freezer).
· Know how to open your garage door without the electric opener.
· Remember, electric well and sump pumps will not operate.
· Unplug all motor-driven appliances like refrigerators and freezers and sensitive electronic equipment (like TVs, microwaves and computers) to prevent a possible electrical overload when power is restored.
· Leave one light switch on to indicate when power is restored.

HOW PSE&G RESTORES POWER TO CUSTOMERS
In the event of an outage, PSE&G's crews work around the clock to restore power to customers. Their first concern is always health and safety.

Crews work to restore power to the largest numbers of customers first, taking into account "priority" customers, such as hospitals, police stations, fire stations, water and sewer facilities, communications facilities (TV, radio, and telephone), and customers on life-sustaining medical equipment. At the same time, the utility restores power to homes and businesses, starting with the circuits serving the largest number of customers.

IF YOU USE A PORTABLE ELECTRIC GENERATOR, CAREFULLY READ AND FOLLOW THE MANUAL THAT CAME WITH IT. Be sure your generator is UL-approved, installed by a licensed electrician and inspected by your local electrical inspector. There must be a way to physically disconnect your generator from utility lines. Customers who improperly install, operate or maintain a generator are responsible for any injury or damage suffered by themselves, their neighbors or utility workers.

FLOODED BASEMENTS
Flooded basements can pose a genuine safety risk. Below are some steps you can take to help ensure your safety in the event of flooding:

· Be cautious in flooded basements.
· If customers lose electricity and their basement is flooded, notify PSE&G (1-800-436-7734) and call the local fire department to have the basement pumped. Stay away from the