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PG&E Prepares for First Significant Storm of 2015

02/05/2015

Utility Urges Customers to Stay Safe and Have a Preparedness Plan Ready

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As the first large storm of 2015 moves toward Northern and Central California packing heavy rain and gusty winds, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is hard at work preparing for the storm and reminds customers to have a preparedness plan ready as well for potential power outages and other storm related hazards. The utility is closely tracking the weather system and mobilizing crews and materials into areas that will feel the brunt of the storm, so they can get to work and restore service to impacted customers more quickly.

“PG&E has been implementing our storm preparedness plans for the past three days to help provide our customers with a safe, quick and effective response when this weather system makes landfall in California. Likewise, we encourage our customers to take the time now to make a plan or review your personal and family preparedness plans before the storm arrives,” said Barry Anderson, vice president of emergency preparedness and response for PG&E.

PG&E routinely practices its preparedness and response to storms and other emergencies through company exercises and through drills with local first responders. The company also utilizes the latest technology to restore power more quickly and efficiently after a storm. This includes the use of storm damage prediction models, the installation of automated equipment that “self-heals” the electric grid, and a network of more than 4.5 million electric SmartMeters that provide timely and accurate outage data.

PG&E urges customers to stay safe during storms and remember the following safety tips:

  • Always treat low hanging and downed power lines as if they are energized and extremely dangerous. Keep yourself and others away from them. Be aware that trees, pools of water and other objects may be in contact with energized power lines. If you see damaged power lines or electrical equipment, call 911 immediately and then notify PG&E at 1-800-743-5002.
  • During a power outage, use battery-operated flashlights, and not candles, due to the risk of fire. If you must use candles, please keep them away from drapes, lampshades and small children. Do not leave candles unattended.
  • Customers with generators should make sure they are properly installed by a licensed electrician in a well-ventilated area. Improperly installed generators pose a significant danger to crews working on power lines.
  • If you experience an outage, unplug or turn off all electrical appliances to avoid overloading circuits and to prevent fire hazards when power is restored. Simply leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns. Turn your appliances back on one at a time when conditions return to normal.
  • Freeze plastic containers filled with water to make blocks of ice that can be placed in your refrigerator and freezer during an outage to prevent food from spoiling. Blue Ice from your picnic cooler also works well in the freezer.

For more safety tips please visit www.pge.com/safety.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 23,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com and www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.

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Source: Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Brian Swanson, 415-973-5930

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