Dominion Virginia Power is Prepared for Third Major Winter Storm of the Season
05 2월 2010 - 12:43AM
PR Newswire (US)
RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion Virginia Power
trucks are being stocked and fueled and crews are being readied to
respond to a third major winter storm in two months. The company
anticipates a mixture of precipitation including wet snow, freezing
rain and sleet that could knock trees and limbs into power lines
and create outages. Dominion reminds its customers to stay away
from downed power lines. Customers should call toll free
1-888-667-3000 to report outages or downed lines. The calls will be
answered either by call-center representatives or by an automated
voice response unit, which is the quickest way to report an outage
or downed power line. Customers who have online accounts can report
outages on-line and ask to be contacted by telephone when outage
restoration information becomes available. In the event of severe
weather, take these steps to help prepare for possible outages:
Before the storm: -- Establish an online account with Dominion at
http://www.dom.com/, keyword: "manage your account." -- Make sure
you have a battery-operated radio - or one that can be hand-powered
- and battery-operated clock, multiple flashlights and extra
batteries. -- Turn off and unplug any non-essential electrical
equipment in your home. -- Make sure all prescription medications
are filled. -- If you have pets, make sure you have provided for
them as well. During the storm, if your electricity is interrupted:
-- Call Dominion at 1-888-667-3000 to report an outage. Do not rely
on your neighbors to report your outage. -- When reporting your
outage, whether via phone or online, enter the phone number where
you can best be reached in case Dominion needs to contact you for
more information or to provide an update. -- Leave one light on so
you will know when power is restored. -- If using portable or
camp-type stoves or lanterns for cooking and lighting, ensure that
the area is adequately ventilated. After the storm: -- Stay away
from fallen wires and debris. Treat all fallen wires as if they are
energized. -- Follow safe operating procedures for generators.
Never operate one inside your home, in crawl spaces or in an
enclosed space, such as a garage. -- Do not hook portable
generators directly to the electrical system of your home.
Electricity could flow backward onto Dominion's power lines and
endanger lives. Either have a qualified electrician perform the
work or plug directly into the generator with the proper-sized
extension cords. -- Visually inspect the area around your
electricity meter. If you detect or suspect any damage, call
Dominion at 1-888-667-3000. -- Clear snow from the area around your
home's heat pump so that air can circulate properly. -- Check for
ice buildup within the exterior heat pump mechanism. Ice buildup
can impede the proper functioning of the fan. If it persists, you
may need to contact a qualified service technician. Dominion is one
of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with
a portfolio of more than 27,500 megawatts of generation. Dominion
operates the nation's largest natural gas storage system and serves
retail energy customers in 12 states. For more information about
Dominion, visit the company's Web site at http://www.dom.com/.
DATASOURCE: Dominion Virginia Power CONTACT: Karl Neddenien,
+1-804-771-6115, , Le-Ha Anderson, +1-703-591-1201, , or Chuck
Penn, +1-757-857-2700, , all of Dominion Virginia Power Web Site:
http://www.dom.com/
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