With summer just around the corner, Delmarva Power has been hard at work prepping its systems and testing its processes and procedures as part of the company’s efforts to provide safe and reliable service for its 527,000 electric customers and 134,000 natural gas customers.
“We stay committed to providing safe, reliable, and affordable energy services for our customers year-round,” said Gary Stockbridge, Delmarva Power region president. “Through our continued approach of preparing early and consistently, the men and women of Delmarva Power stand ready and able to answer the call in keeping customers energized all summer. As hurricane season and warmer temperatures begin to arrive, we look to provide customers the tools and resources they need to stay safe and increase savings during the summer heat.”
The recent work is part of Delmarva Power’s ongoing efforts to maintain and modernize the local energy grid. These efforts delivered customers the lowest frequency of electric outages ever in 2018, a 34 percent decrease over the last five years.
Delmarva Power completes hundreds of tasks to prepare for the summer season, including system work, testing and drills. Employees across the region are ready to respond to severe summer storms or emergencies if needed. As part of the Exelon family of companies, Delmarva Power can call on resources from sister companies in the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Illinois to restore power quickly after major storms.
As Delmarva Power prepares for summer, customers should prepare, too. Before severe weather hits, customers should assemble an emergency storm kit. It should include a battery-powered radio or TV, flashlight, a first-aid kit, battery-powered or windup clock, extra batteries, special-needs items, medications, a multipurpose tool, cellphones with chargers, and a list of important and emergency phone numbers. They should also have a supply of bottled water and easy-to-prepare, nonperishable foods available; keep a flashlight with fresh batteries on each floor of a home; identify an alternate location for all family members to gather in case of an extended outage. It’s also important to review the manufacturer’s instructions for safe operation of a generator; do not connect a generator directly to a home’s wiring; and never use a generator indoors or in any enclosed area.
If severe storms hit, Delmarva Power has many online resources to keep customers informed. The company’s interactive outage map provides customers information about outages across the company’s system and gives an estimate of how quickly power is expected to be restored. Being prepared is a responsibility everyone should take seriously. If a severe storm hits, people should monitor local weather reports regularly and follow the advice of local emergency management officials. To report a downed wire immediately or a service issue, call 800-898-8042 or go to www.delmarva.com.
If a people smell natural gas, they should leave the area immediately and then call Delmarva Power at 302-454-0317. For more tips, resources and safety information, go to www.delmarva.com/storm.
To save energy and lower bills this summer, follow a few simple tips: turn off all unnecessary lighting and devices; keep thermostats at a constant, comfortable level when at home; raise the thermostat setting for days of extreme heat to save even more; install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust a home's temperature settings when occupants are away or sleeping; keep shades, blinds and curtains closed; use ceiling fans to circulate air; and run heat-producing appliances such as clothes dryers, ovens and dishwashers at night when it is cooler.
