07 August 2023- As residents and businesses across the Commonwealth brace for powerful summer storms – including the risk of high winds, heavy rain, and hail – the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) reminds Pennsylvanians of the steps they can take to prepare for, and recover safely from, storm-related power outages.
Heavy rain and high winds can bring down trees, branches, and wires, disrupting utility service. Time spent on planning and preparing before a storm can go a long way toward keeping you and your family safe when severe weather hits.
Additionally, the PUC cautions everyone to give utility crews ample room to perform their repair work – for your protection as well as theirs – and to use extra care when traveling, watching for utility crews working along streets and roads and slowing down in work areas.
The PUC encourages everyone to consider the following tips before storm strikes:
- Know Your Utility Hotlines – Write down, print or save toll-free outage hotlines for your electric utility and/or your natural gas utility, which are listed on your monthly bills and posted on the PUC website.
- Save Utility Website Address – Your utility’s outage reporting system can provide updates on repair and restoration efforts. Bookmark these electric utility outage sites and natural gas company websites.
- Keep Your Cell Phone Charged – A well-charged phone will keep you in contact with your utility, other emergency services and family members during any power outage.
- Secure Supplies – Keep necessary food, medicine and other supplies on-hand, including batteries for flashlights.
