Majority of remaining customers expected to be restored by noon Sunday
CHICAGO, June 20 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 90 percent of customers affected by
the destructive storms that struck on June 19 were restored in fewer than 38
hours. About 245,000 customers lost power as a result of the storm.
As of 9:30 p.m., approximately 9,300 customers remain without power across the
entire ComEd service territory. To address these outages, crews are working
16-hour shifts to restore customers as safely and quickly as possible. More
than 300 crews, including 50 contractors, have participated in the restoration
effort. Out-of-state crews were not a practical option for this restoration
effort as they wouldn't be able to arrive in affected areas until late Sunday
evening.
"We expect to restore the vast majority of the remaining affected customers by
noon on Sunday," said Anne Pramaggiore, ComEd President and COO. "Our crews
continue to do a superb job, and we thank our customers for their continued
patience as we work to get everyone restored."
Damage from the storms was severe and widespread. High winds in excess of 60
miles per hour were estimated in some areas. In some locations, winds uprooted
trees, and heavy rains affected ComEd power lines and equipment. Bolingbrook,
Glenbard, Maywood, Crystal Lake and Skokie were hardest hit. ComEd established
an incident command center at ComEd's Glenbard office to support efforts in
restoring power to this area.
Customers remaining without electric service should report their outage to
1-800-EDISON-1 (1-800-334-7661). Additionally, anyone seeing a downed power
line is urged to stay clear. Never approach a downed power line. Always
presume a power line is energized and extremely dangerous. Immediately call
ComEd at 1-800-EDISON1 to report the location. And it is important to check on
elderly and other sensitive family members and neighbors to ensure their
safety and to make alternate arrangements for where they can stay should power
remain out longer than anticipated.
ComEd also offers the following suggestions for customers experiencing a
prolonged outage:
-- Turn off all lights and appliances, including your furnace, water
heater, and water pump.
-- Leave one light on so you can know when power has been restored. This
will also avoid a power surge when your power is restored.
-- Keep freezer and refrigerator doors closed and open them only when
necessary. Food will stay frozen for 36 to 48 hours in a fully loaded
freezer, if the door remains closed. A half-full freezer will
generally
keep food frozen for 24 hours.
-- Customers who are on medical support equipment are strongly encouraged
to evacuate to a place where they can be comfortable and safe.
Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon
Corporation (NYSE: EXC), one of the nation's largest electric utilities with
approximately 5.2 million customers. ComEd provides service to approximately
3.8 million customers across Northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's
population.
SOURCE ComEd
ComEd Media Relations, +1-312-394-3500
