High Winds Continue to Batter Metro Area Producing Additional Power Outages

WASHINGTON - Today t he Washington Metropolitan Region was battered by highs winds that brought tree limbs into contact with power lines and caused sporadic outages. The National Weather Service's High Wind Warning remains in effect through 9 p.m. with predicted wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour.

Pepco crews have restored power to more than 19,000 customers but the continued high wind gusts are blowing tree limbs into power lines and creating additional outages.

"This is an all-hands event," said Thomas Graham, President Pepco Region. "We are bringing in additional contract crews from the New Castle, Delaware area to work on the Pepco electric system tonight and into tomorrow. Due to the continuing nature of the high wind outages, we are paying particular attention to those customers that lost power earlier today. "

Friday, Pepco did participate in a Mutual Assistance Call but as the high wind storm is affecting much of the eastern seaboard, no crews were available.

To report Power Outages and Downed Wires Call 1-877-737-2662.

If you are calling to report a power outage, please call 1-877-Pepco-62 (1-877-737-2662) and press one. If you are reporting a life threatening emergency situation such as a burning downed wire please call 1-877-Pepco-62 (1-877-737-2662) and press two.

The option for reporting an actual life threatening emergency should NOT be used to report an outage, as it will prevent customers with actual emergencies from getting through.

Please stay away from downed wires and report them immediately. Customers also are asked to call Pepco to report outages - even if their neighbors already may have called. Pepco's automated outage reporting system is the most effective way to report an outage because it immediately feeds information into computers that rapidly identify problem areas and dispatch repair crews, so that power can be restored as quickly as possible.

Power Restoration Process - How Pepco Restores Power

Once the storm subsides, crews will survey the electric system to assess the damage. As with plowing roads, it is not possible to clear side streets before the main roads are cleared. To that end, in the event our system is damaged by severe weather, Pepco repairs equipment that will restore the largest numbers of customers first. Generally, the power restoration sequence is as follows:

· Downed live wires or potentially life-threatening situations and public health and safety facilities without power

• Transmission lines serving thousands of customers
• Substation equipment
• Main distribution lines serving large numbers of customers
• Secondary lines serving neighborhoods
• Service lines to individual homes and businesses

Pepco urges customers to stay safe and be prepared. Here are some additional tips:

• Assemble an emergency storm kit. Include a battery-powered radio or television, flashlight, first-aid kit, battery-powered or windup clock, extra batteries, non-perishable food, manual can opener, bottled water, any necessary medications and a list of emergency phone numbers.
• Maintain a supply of extra blankets.
• Ensure that all household members have a warm coat, gloves, hat and water-resistant boots.
• Make sure your home has a telephone with a cord or cell phone to use as a backup. Cordless telephones require electricity to operate, and won't work if there is an outage.
• Identify a place for emergency shelter in case of an extended outage. 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 service interruptions.

Additional 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 778,000 customers in Maryland and the District of Columbia.