For Immediate Release
December 13, 2000

Pepco is prepared for the possibility of a severe winter storm that could bring icing conditions and potential power outages Wednesday night and Thursday.

The utility has taken several steps to prepare in case outages occur:

• Some repair crews were released at noon today and will report back at 8 p.m. to beef up the overnight shift.

• The company has contacted other utilities along the East Coast to assess the availability of mutual-aid crews to assist with potential restoration work.
• Storeroom inventories have been checked to assure the availability of poles, transformers, fuses, wires and other material needed to make repairs.
• Call center shifts have been extended tonight and workers will report earlier than normal on Thursday to handle any increased call volume.

In the event of an outage, customers can report lights out by calling 1-877-Pepco-62. The system is capable of processing up to 100,000 calls per hour.

With the arrival of winter weather, Pepco offers the following tips to prepare for the possibility of power outages:

• Have a flashlight and fresh batteries available.
• Keep a battery-powered radio on hand.
• Check on elderly or homebound neighbors.
• Stock up on non-perishable foods, and have a manual can opener available.
• Keep warm with extra layers of clothing and blankets.
• Avoid home heat loss by closing off unused rooms.

Ice storms can be among most destructive events affecting a utility`s distribution system. The weight of ice on trees and utility equipment can bring down lines and poles, requiring a virtual rebuilding of parts of the system. In the event of outages, Pepco crews will work around the clock to restore power.