(NEWARK, N.J. – November 22, 2021) As the weather gets colder and snow forecasts become frequent, PSE&G encourages its customers to take time now and prepare for bad weather before winter storms hit.
"Snow itself usually isn't a major issue but strong winds and ice buildup can bring down power lines," said Paul Toscarelli, emergency preparedness director. "We encourage customers to familiarize themselves with winter preparation tips and always think safety first in severe weather."

PSE&G prepares year-round for extreme weather to maintain reliable service for our customers. The utility has made significant infrastructure investments, including more than $1.7 billion in electric projects and approximately $821 million in gas projects from June 2020 to June 2021. The investments have strengthened the system so that fewer customers experience outages and, when they do occur, the duration is shorter, especially during extreme weather. One major effort this year involved adding more smart devices across the state to bolster safety, resiliency and reliability.

In particular, PSE&G recommends customers focus on the following safety and energy savings tips.

Winter safety tips:

• Have your heating system checked by a professional before operating, particularly if you experienced flooding recently. An overheated boiler or furnace can lead to injury and/or explosion.
• Chimneys and vents for gas appliances must be cleared following a major snow or ice storm to enable proper venting and prevent carbon monoxide accumulation.
• Make sure that snow does not block exhaust from a sidewall vent; otherwise, it could shut down or block heating equipment and dryer exhaust, allowing fumes containing carbon monoxide to build up.
• Accumulation of ice or snow can interfere with the proper operation of your gas metering system. The meter assembly may contain a regulator that is designed to safely release pressurized gas in the event of a malfunction. Blocking the regulator vent could create an unsafe condition where gas is not able to escape from internal piping.
• Snow and ice can damage gas meters and piping. Be careful when removing snow from around the gas meter; any damage to the gas meter could potentially create a possible leak hazard.
• Use a broom to keep the gas meter, pressure regulator, and vent piping clear of snow and ice during the winter season.
• Chimneys and vents should be protected using an approved cap or screen to keep small animals or insects from entering. These pests have been known to build nests inside chimneys or vents and can cause potentially hazardous conditions.
• Inspect and clean dryer vents to ensure they are clear of debris, lint and condensation, which can become a fire hazard especially in the winter when drying heavier clothing and bedding.
• Do not store propane tanks or any other highly flammable gas/liquid in your home, as they can become extremely hazardous in the event of a fire.
• If you smell a gas odor outside, please call 1-800-880-7734 (PSEG) from a neighbor's home and remain outside until PSE&G arrives.
• Downed wires should always be considered “live.” Stay at least 30 feet away from downed lines, and don’t go near the pole or anything touching the line. Immediately contact PSE&G, at 1-800-436-PSEG (7734) via mobile app or our website, to report downed wires and dial 911 if an immediate hazard exists.
• Electric current passes easily through water, so stay away from downed power lines and electrical wires. Don't drive over – and don't stand near – downed power lines.
• Downed wires can potentially be hidden in standing water. If you encounter large pools of standing water, stop, back up and choose another path.
• To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, do not run any gasoline-powered generators in a garage or any other enclosed space.
• If you are on life-sustaining medical equipment, ensure that you alert PSE&G in advance and notify your local police and fire departments. For more information, visit www.pseg.com/life. 

Winter energy savings tips to lower your bill:

• Lower your thermostat: Home heating is the largest user of energy and offers the greatest opportunity for savings. Lowering the thermostat by just one degree can reduce your heating bill by up to 3%.
• Use your blinds: Open your curtains and blinds that face the sun on sunny days to warm your home, and close them at night to keep the warm air inside.
• Check your heating system: Check for sufficient water levels in the sight glass for steam heating systems to ensure maximum efficiency. Replace the filter on your warm air furnace heating system. Remove any debris around your heating system.
• Caulk out the cold: caulk gaps in window and door frames and add insulation to reduce heating costs.

Customers should prepare, be cautious and stay alert to their surroundings during and after storms. Review storm preparation tips at https://nj.pseg.com/safetyandreliability/stormsafety.

Stay connected:

• Download the PSE&G mobile app to report outages and receive information on restoration times, crew locations and more.
• Register for MyAlerts to receive text notifications at pseg.com/outagecenter.
• Report an outage and receive status updates by texting OUT to 4PSEG (47734). You can also report your outage through our app, website at pseg.com/myaccount or with your voice using the Amazon Alexa or Google Assistantⁱ app on your smartphone. 
• Follow PSE&G on PSEG on Facebook and Twitter @PSEGdelivers for updates before, during and after the storm.
• Visit PSE&G’s Outage Map for the latest in outage info, restoration times and crew locations across New Jersey at pseg.com/outagecenter.  
• To report an outage by phone, call PSE&G at 1-800-436-PSEG (7734) or use our web chat feature at pseg.com/myaccount.

###

PSE&G