Forecast Calls for the Return of Strong Thunderstorms

WASHINGTON - Pepco is monitoring today's weather forecast which calls for another round of severe thunderstorms to race across the mid-Atlantic region tomorrow evening. This storm system has a history of producing heavy rain, damaging wind and hail.

The National Weather Service is predicting that an extensive line of severe thunderstorms will affect the entire Washington Metropolitan Region. Possible wind gusts in excess of 50 miles per hour are expected in the advance of the Saturday evening cold front.

Pepco has scheduled additional crews and contractors to work around-the-clock. Pepco's customer service personnel are also prepared to work throughout the night as needed.

Extensive damage caused by high winds, saturated soil, and falling trees and tree limbs that come into contact with power lines can cause power outages. Storm restoration may require extensive labor to cut up fallen trees and remove downed wires, install new power poles, restring lines and replace other equipment such as transformers and fuses.

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

• Please stay away from downed wires and report them immediately.
• If calling to report a power outage, a non-life threatening situation, customers are asked to call 1-877-Pepco-62 (1-877-737-2662) and press one for the automated system.
• If reporting an emergency life threatening situation such as downed wires, pole down, etc. customers are asked to 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 non-life threatening emergencies, as it will prevent customers with actual emergencies from getting through to report their situation.
• Pepco also recommends that when reporting an outage that customers request a call back. When outages are restored in their area, the customer will be notified in the event they are not home or have relocated. This also helps Pepco during the restoration process to locate outages that may be specific to customers' homes, such as an issue with the service wire to an individual house.

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.
• Make sure there is a home 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.

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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.