Be Mindful of Utility Crews; Drive Carefully to Minimize Chances of Pole Accidents

WASHINGTON - Pepco crews will be out on the roads traveling and restoring power to customers who lose service during this weekend's winter storm.  Safety is always our foremost concern for our customers and our crews. During extreme weather conditions, which could include high winds, Pepco crews may temporarily discontinue aerial restoration work until it is safe for them to resume. While we work to restore power, we urge motorists to be extra cautious to ensure safety for themselves and the utility crews who are working near area roadways.  Safe driving also minimizes the chances of motorists hitting utility poles, which can happen along icy roads during and after winter storms. To report power outages, call 1-877-PEPCO62 (1-877-737-2662).  Customers should not depend on neighbors to report their outage.
Pepco also reminds customers to follow these important safety tips:

• Never attempt to remove trees or limbs from any utility line. Treat all fallen wires as if they are energized.
• If using a portable generator during a power outage, always operate it outside, away from doors and windows to prevent deadly carbon monoxide fumes from entering the home.
• If a home has a heat pump, clear the ice and snow away from the unit so that air can circulate properly. 
• It is important that customers with special needs or their caregivers take responsibility to make arrangements ahead of time to prepare for potentially long-lasting interruptions in service.

Additional weather, outage and safety information may be found at www.pepco.com.

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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.