Atlantic City Electric, Camden County Prepared For Winter Storms

With the first snow of the season in South Jersey possible for Thursday, Atlantic City Electric, the Camden County Office of Emergency Management, and the American Red Cross recently held a briefing about the upcoming winter season.

A nor’easter is expected to arrive between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Thursday, bringing 1 to 3 inches of snow to parts of New Jersey, forecasters say. Much of that rough weather is expected to change to rain and freezing rain in Central and South Jersey and the Jersey Shore on Thursday night and Friday; for the rest of the state, it'll be more snow. Read more here: Snow Chances Increase In NJ Nor’easter: Here’s How Much

Atlantic City Electric announced that it has prepared the local energy grid to prepare for colder temperatures and wintry weather – part of the $312 million the company spends each year to modernize the local energy grid, perform maintenance and inspections, and enhance existing infrastructure.

“Each day, work is being performed to further enhance reliability for customers and harden our system against severe weather,” Atlantic City Electric Region President Gary Stockbridge said. “Our preparation efforts are central to being ready to respond safely and quickly when customers need us this winter. It’s this seasonal preparation, as well as year-round investments in the reliability and resiliency of our system, that have helped us deliver the most reliable service in the company’s history in recent years.”

“Camden County works closely with Atlantic City Electric, and our other public utility providers, to ensure the safety of our residents throughout the year, and especially in the winter months when power outages can put individuals at risk,” Freeholder Jonathan Young, liaison to the Camden County Office of Emergency Management, said. “In addition to our preparedness, it is important for each household in Camden County to have their own plan in place for emergency situations that may arise.”

On the local electric grid, preparation includes inspecting and upgrading equipment; trimming trees, which cause about 40 percent of power outages; building new underground equipment; and installing stronger, tree-resistant aerial cable. Atlantic City Electric also continues to install smart technology that can automatically identify the location of damage, restore service more quickly, or isolate damage. Ongoing investments in the local energy grid have resulted in a 40 percent decrease in the frequency of outages for customers over the last five years.

Atlantic City Electric’s preparation efforts also include conducting emergency response drills, testing computer and emergency systems, reviewing emergency processes and procedures, and coordinating closely with government and community partners. The company also participates in collaborative emergency response exercises with its Exelon sister companies – BGE, ComEd, Delmarva Power, PECO and Pepco – to ensure each can provide seamless support during a storm. During the series of nor’easters last March, this coordination allowed crews from ComEd to quickly respond and support power restoration efforts in the hardest hit parts of the East Coast.

On Wednesday, Camden County said it was preparing for the storm with more than 100 pieces of equipment to help keep the roads passable. When the weather becomes treacherous, personnel will be dispatched to 12 winter maintenance districts to salt and plow 1,200 lane miles of roadways across Camden County. The county’s response plan calls for crews to be dispatched only to the zones where they are needed.

“We remain on target for a south to north arrival of precipitation tomorrow morning, that could deliver a moderate to heavy amount of snow and sleet before transitioning to freezing rain,” Freeholder Susan Shin Angulo, liaison to the Camden County Department of Public Works said. “Because of the possibility of a dense accumulation of sleet, there is an increased threat of pavement coverage, so we need everyone to remain cautious on the roadways.

“If you don’t have to travel, please stay off the roads to give our crews the ability to effectively do their job. Anyone on the roadways during the storm should be prepared to encounter slick road conditions. Always leave at least six car lengths behind our DPW vehicles while they work, and move any cars off the street and into a driveway while we continue our operations. Remember that it is illegal in New Jersey to plow or shovel snow from private property into roadways.”

In the event that the weather causes isolated power outages, residents should immediately call their utility company so they can identify the location and coordinate crews to restore power. Any storm has the potential to bring down trees and power lines, so residents need to be extra cognizant of any power failures. Below are numbers and contact info for the two power providers in Camden County:

• PSE&G: 1-800-436-PSEG (7734)
• PSEG website: http://pseg.com/home/customer_service/outage_info/index.jsp
• Atlantic City Electric: 1-800-833-7476; http://www.atlanticcityelectric.com/home/
• South Jersey Gas: 1-800-582-7060
• South Jersey Gas website: http://southjerseygas.com/

Atlantic City Electric provided the following tips:

• Assemble an emergency storm kit. Include battery-powered radio or TV, flashlight, a first-aid kit, battery-powered or windup clock, extra batteries, special needs items, medications, multi-purpose tool, cell phones with chargers, and list of important and emergency phone numbers.
• Apply insulation, caulking, and weather stripping around your home to keep out the cold.
• Have a supply of bottled water and easy-to-prepare, non-perishable foods available.
• Keep a flashlight with fresh batteries on each floor of your home.
• Identify an alternate location for you and/or your family in case of extended outage.
• Review the manufacturer’s instructions for safe operations of your generator. Do not connect a generator directly to your home’s wiring. Never use a generator indoors or any enclosed area.
• Download Atlantic City Electric’s app at atlanticcityelectric.com/mobileapp to keep informed during a storm.

As always, use 911 for emergencies only. Anyone who sees a problem on a county road should call the county’s 24-hour hot line at 856-566-2980 to report it to the Department of Public Works.

The attached images were provided by Atlantic City Electric. Main image: Camden County Freeholder Jonathan Young, liaison to the Camden County Office of Emergency Management, provides remarks at a Winter Preparedness Briefing held November 9. Atlantic City Electric, in partnership with the Camden County Office of Emergency Management, held the conference in preparation of the winter storm season.

Marshall Murphy, vice president of Communications, Pepco Holdings, which includes Atlantic City Electric, addresses attendees of a Winter Preparedness Briefing held November 9 in Camden County, N.J., to share important storm preparedness messaging in advance of the winter storm season. Murphy is flanked by representatives with Atlantic City Electric, the Camden County Office of Emergency Management, and the American Red Cross.

Atlantic City Electric’s Jules Zaccone demonstrates how electric devices work to help reduce outages at a Winter Preparedness Briefing held November 9. Atlantic City Electric, in partnership with the Camden County Office of Emergency Management, held the briefing in preparation of the winter storm season.