Pepco Encourages Customers to Review Plans, Check Supplies

The 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season officially begins this week, arriving on cue with the formation of the season's first tropical storm, "Arthur." Pepco is reminding customers that it's time to prepare for the possibility that destructive tropical weather could hit the region any time between now and Nov. 30. The National Weather Service predicts an active period this year with 12 to16 named storms, six to nine of them becoming hurricanes, and two to five will be major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.

"Even though the damage created by the storms that hit the U.S. mainland last year was minimal, this year may prove different," said Hallie M. Reese, Vice President, Safety and Strategic Services. "We strongly encourage customers to take steps and prepare for any emergency." She said that a few basic steps taken now will pay off when bad weather hits, not only during hurricanes but during severe summer thunderstorms.

Here are a few important steps:

1. Keep Pepco emergency numbers accessible to report outages or wires down. For outages, call 1-877-PEPCO-62 (1-877-737-2662). To report downed wires, call 202-872-3432.

2. Make sure Pepco has your latest phone number registered in our automated Outage Management System, so we can identify your location and more quickly locate the source of trouble. Customers can update numbers online at www.pepco.com or call Customer Care at 202-833-7500.

3. Prepare an emergency survival kit. This would include 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. Would you stay at home or, perhaps, with family or friends?

Pepco employees regularly prepare for the possibility of power outages and frequently participate in emergency drills. The company maintains supplies of essential equipment, such as poles, wires and transformers, and stays in contact with utilities throughout the region to quickly arrange mutual assistance in case of a natural disaster.

Pepco has upgraded its Web site to enable customers 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.pepco.com and visit the Storm Center. A new outage brochure, "Weathering the Storm," can be downloaded from the site. Customers can also call 202-833-7500 to request a copy by mail.

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Pepco, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), delivers safe, reliable and affordable electric service to more than 750,000 customers in Maryland and the District of Columbia.