PSE&G Storm Update – August 4 - 4:45 PM

Update:

  • Heavy rain, strong winds and hazardous gusts continue across PSE&G’s service territory causing downed trees, branches and wires affecting, as of 4:45 PM, approximately 490,000 of our 2.3 million customers. 
  • With tornado, flood and other weather warnings across the state, PSE&G anticipates that Isaias may be among the strongest storms to hit our service territory in recent years, and that some outages could last for an extended period. See outage map for updates. The restoration process is four steps: Assessing damage, clearing roads and restoring emergency facilities (hospitals, fire stations, etc.), then restoring facilities serving large numbers of customers and finally restoring single outages. 
  • PSE&G is working as safely and quickly as possible to restore customers without power, and has nearly 2,800 workers dedicated to restoration.
  • PSE&G has secured outside personnel, including tree and line crews, to repair damage and respond to outages:
    • PSE&G has requested 1,700 workers through mutual aid from Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Nova Scotia, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.
    • 253 tree trimming crews, including 643 workers, are responding to clear extensive tree damage from the storm.
  • PSE&G reminds customers that its crews are unable to work in bucket trucks to make repairs until wind speeds fall to non-hazardous levels.
  • Crews are working to assess damage and make repairs. As we learn more about the extent of the damage, restoration times will be adjusted. 
  • In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have adapted our storm and safety procedures to follow public health guidelines and industry best practices. We thank our customers for their patience as we operate under these unusual circumstances to safely restore power as quickly as possible.
  • As always, our goal is to restore power safely and as quickly as possible. We ask our customers for a fair amount of patience and want to assure everyone we will be there just as soon as it is safe.

 

Customer Safety:

  • Downed wires should always be considered “live.” Stay at least 30 feet away from downed lines and immediately call PSE&G at 1-800-436-PSEG (7734) or 911 to report downed wires.
  • Electric current passes easily through water, so stay away from downed lines and electrical wires. Don't drive over – and don't stand near – downed wires.
  • Downed lines will be hard to see in the rain and can potentially be hidden in standing water. If you encounter large pools of standing water, stop, back up and choose another path.
  • The safety of PSE&G’s customers and employees is the company’s top priority. We ask that customers remain in their homes while crews are working nearby. If customers must speak with our crews, we ask that they practice responsible “social distancing” and remain at least 6 feet away to ensure the health of everyone involved. For more information about how PSE&G continues to live up to its commitments during the pandemic, please visit https://nj.pseg.com/safetyandreliability/safetytips/coronavirus.

 

Stay connected with PSE&G:

  • The new PSE&G mobile app enables customers using Apple or Android devices to securely and easily manage their accounts when and where the customers want to be served.
  • Include PSE&G Customer Service 1-800-436-PSEG in your list of emergency phone numbers. 
  • Go to pseg.com/outagecenter to check the “Outage Map,” which is updated every 15 minutes with PSE&G outage information, and to register for MyAlerts to receive text notifications.
  • You can report an outage by texting “OUT” to 4PSEG (47734), or via Google Assistant or Alexa.
  • “Like” PSEG on Facebook and follow PSEG on Twitter @PSEGdelivers.

 

Other important safety notes:

  • 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

*Mutual Aid
PSE&G thanks the following for their assistance:

AEP Southwestern Electric Power Company, Alliant Energy, C.C. Power, Center Phase Energy, Collective Storm Response, East Coast Poweline, Heart Utilities, Henkels & McCoy, Louisville Gas & Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities, Michels Power, Mid-Con Energy Services, MOhawk Electric, OneSource Restoration, OnPower Energy Services, Riggs Distler, United Electric and Valiant Energy Service