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PSE&G Prepares For Approaching Nor’easter

Linwood Ave at Washington Township Boarder Shut Down due to Fallen Tree Monday

file photo by Boyd Loving

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Public Service Electric & Gas, New Jersey’s largest utility, is monitoring the forecast and preparing for the strong winds, heavy snow and possible flooding Wednesday afternoon into Thursday. These conditions may cause tree limbs to break and pull down wires, causing power interruptions. PSE&G has a full complement of staff ready to respond, has performed system checks on critical transmission and distribution equipment, and performed logistics checks to ensure the availability of critical materials, fuel and other supplies.

Continue reading PSE&G Prepares For Approaching Nor’easter

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PSE&G Braces for Another Winter Storm

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file photo by Boyd Loving

PSE&G Braces for Another Winter Storm
February 12, 2014

(NEWARK, NJ – Feb. 12, 2014) Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), New Jersey’s largest electric and gas utility, is preparing for the approaching winter storm system expected to hit the region tomorrow morning through Friday morning, bringing with it snow and a wintry mix.

Up to a foot of snow accumulation is possible in some areas. While snow usually isn’t an issue for utilities, the possibility of sleet and freezing rain can increase the likelihood of downed wires and resulting power outages. Vehicles striking utility poles can also cause wires to come down.

In anticipation of the storm, PSE&G is ensuring that all available personnel are ready to respond beginning tonight. The utility is also arranging for contractors, including tree crews, to assist the utility’s own skilled workforce, and ensuring that additional supplies such as poles and transformers are on hand.

PSE&G offers the following tips to customers to prepare:

Charge your cell phones, tablets and other mobile devices.
Fill up your car’s fuel tank.
Ensure you have a battery-powered radio and a supply of fresh batteries.
Check your supply of flashlights, blankets, nonperishable food and bottled water for everyone in your family.
Put your refrigerator and freezer at the coldest setting. Keep a blanket handy to throw over these appliances for added insulation. If electricity is interrupted, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
Sign up for MyAccount at www.pseg.com and bookmark the mobile-friendly homepage on your smart phone so it’s easy to report outages and check restoration progress.
Compile a list of emergency phone numbers, including PSE&G’s Customer Service line: 1-800-436-PSEG. Call this number to report power outages or downed wires.

Accumulation of ice and heavy snow may weigh down power lines and as a result cause power lines to come down. PSE&G urges its customers to be cautious if they see downed 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.

To report downed wires or power outages, customers should call PSE&G’s Customer Service line at 1-800-436-PSEG. Customers with a handheld device, or who are at an alternate location with power, can also report power outages and view the status of their outage by logging in to My Account on www.pseg.com, PSE&G’s mobile-friendly website.

General outage activity throughout our service territory is available online at www.pseg.com/outagecenter and updates are posted on www.pseg.com during severe weather.

The utility’s Twitter and Facebook pages also keep the public informed about our restoration progress. Sign up as a follower at https://www.twitter.com/psegdelivers and www.facebook.com/pseg  to monitor restoration progress. Customers also can register for text and email alerts at www.pseg.com/myaccount.

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Power Outage – Useful Tips

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file photo by Boyd Loving

Power Outage – Useful Tips

PSE&G Contact Number 1-800-436-7734

Information from Ridgewood OEM

BEFORE A BLACKOUT

To prepare for a blackout you should do the following:

• To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.

• Follow energy conservation measures to keep the use of electricity as low as possible, which can help power companies avoid imposing rolling blackouts.

• Fill plastic containers with water and place them in the refrigerator and freezer if there’s room. Leave about an inch of space inside each one, because water expands as it freezes. This chilled or frozen water will help keep food cold during a temporary power outage, by displacing air that can warm up quickly with water or ice that keeps cold for several hours without additional refrigeration.

• Be aware that most medication that requires refrigeration can be kept in a closed refrigerator for several hours without a problem. If unsure, check with your physician or pharmacist.

• Keep your car tank at least half full because gas stations rely on electricity to power their pumps.

• Know where the manual release lever of your electric garage door opener is located and how to operate it. Garage doors can be heavy, so know that you may need help to lift it.

• Keep a key to your house with you if you regularly use the garage as the primary means of entering your home, in case the garage door will not open.

DURING A BLACKOUT

• Use only flashlights for emergency lighting. NEVER use candles during a blackout or power outage due to extreme risk of fire.

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to keep your food as fresh as possible. If you must eat food that was refrigerated or frozen, check it carefully for signs of spoilage. •Turn off or disconnect appliances, equipment (like air conditioners) or electronics in use when the power went out. Power may return with momentary “surges” or “spikes” that can damage computers as well as motors in appliances like the air conditioner, refrigerator, washer or furnace.

• Do not run a generator inside a home or garage.

• Do not connect a generator to a home’s electrical system. If you use a generator, connect the equipment you want to run directly to the outlets on the generator.

• Listen to local radio and to a battery- or generator-powered television for updated information.

• Leave on one light so that you’ll know when your power returns.

• Use a standard telephone handset, cellular phone, radio or pager if your phone requires electricity to work, as do cordless phones and answering machines. Use the phone for emergencies only. Listen to a portable radio for the latest information.

• Do not call 9-1-1 for information—call only to report a life-threatening emergency. Use the phone for life-threatening emergencies only.

• Take steps to remain cool if it is hot outside. In intense heat when the power may be off for a long time, consider going to a movie theater, shopping mall or “cooling shelter” that may be open in your community. If you remain at home, move to the lowest level of your home, since cool air falls. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Drink plenty of water, even if you do not feel thirsty.

• Put on layers of warm clothing if it is cold outside. Never burn charcoal for heating or cooking indoors. Never use your oven as a source of heat. If the power may be out for a prolonged period, plan to go to another location (the home of a relative or friend, or a public facility) that has heat to keep warm.

• Provide plenty of fresh, cool water for your pets.

• Eliminate unnecessary travel, especially by car. Traffic signals will stop working during an outage, creating traffic congestion.

• Remember that equipment such as automated teller machines (ATMs) and elevators may not work during a power outage.

AFTER A BLACKOUT

Throw out unsafe food:

• Throw away any food that has been exposed to temperatures 40° F (4° C) for 2 hours or more or that has an unusual odor, color or texture. When in doubt, throw it out!

• Never taste food or rely on appearance or odor to determine its safety. Some foods may look and smell fine, but if they have been at room temperature too long, bacteria causing food-borne illnesses can start growing quickly. Some types of bacteria produce toxins that cannot be destroyed by cooking.

• If food in the freezer is colder than 40° F and has ice crystals on it, you can refreeze it.

• If you are not sure food is cold enough, take its temperature with the food thermometer. Throw out any foods (meat, poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers) that have been exposed to temperatures higher than 40° F (4° C) for 2 hours or more, and any food that has an unusual odor, color or texture, or feels warm to touch.