RIVERDALE PARK

The following email was sent from Pepco. Please take every precaution during the storm.

Good afternoon everyone,

 Consistent with our commitment to provide safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable electric service to our valued customers, I am writing to share with you so that you may pass along to your residents that Pepco is closely monitoring a weather forecast that calls for a combination of snow, ice, and gusty winds expected to impact the region Tuesday night through Wednesday of this week. The combination of heavy wet snow, ice, and windy conditions can lead to power outages for customers caused by vegetation and vehicles contacting local utility poles.

Please know that we are closely following the weather conditions, and our employees and local contractors remain ready to respond to any issues that may occur. We are activating our Emergency Response Organization and all available personnel are ready to respond to support our customers.

 Pepco Preparedness

Over the last five years, Pepco has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to modernize the local electric distribution system and enhance reliability for customers. Each day work is being performed as part of our ongoing efforts to further improve reliability for customers. This work includes inspecting existing infrastructure, trimming trees, building new underground equipment, and installing stronger, tree-resistant aerial cable. Pepco also continues to install smart technology that can automatically identify the location of damage, restore service more quickly, or isolate damage. Ongoing investments in the local energy grid have resulted in a decrease in both the frequency and duration of outages for our customers.

At Pepco, our teams conduct emergency response drills and completes testing of computer and emergency systems as part of its winter preparedness program. Employees from across the company, including those who work in the field and those who provide back-office support, review and drill emergency processes and procedures to help ensure safe and efficient response to storms or emergencies.

Internal Staffing and Mutual Assistance

In addition to 150 internal linemen, Pepco has 250 overhead line contractors and 180 tree crew personnel.  Crews from its sister utilities, Atlantic City Electric and Delmarva Power, are also available to assist in any restoration efforts. Should Pepco require extra assistance, the merger with Exelon allows for shared resources from other nearby companies in the Exelon family, including Baltimore Gas & Electric and PECO in Philadelphia.

As part of the Exelon family of companies, Pepco also shares best practices with its sister utilities – Atlantic City Electric, Delmarva Power, BGE, ComEd and PECO – and participates in collaborative emergency response training exercises to ensure the company can provide seamless support and resources to another Exelon utility during storm or emergency restoration efforts.

Safety and Reporting Outages

Safety is our top priority. We urge our customers to stay away from downed wires and to assume that any downed wire is energized. We also ask all customers to report an outage or downed wire by calling 1-877-PEPCO-62 (1-877-737-2662).

Pepco also recommends that when reporting an outage, customers request an automated call when their power is restored. Call backs allow Pepco to notify customers when work in their area is completed and they also help Pepco locate outages that may be specific to customers’ homes.

Driving

Motorists should use extra precaution when driving on icy roadways. Motor vehicles striking a utility pole can cause outages. If this occurs and wires are down, it’s important that vehicle occupants remain inside their vehicle until its deemed safe to exit.

Customer Preparedness

Just as Pepco prepares for winter events, we encourage our customers to be ready.

Pepco customers should:

• Customers who need power for critical medical equipment should be prepared to relocate to a facility with electricity in case there is a power outage.
• Have a supply of bottled water and easy-to-prepare, non-perishable foods available.
• Charge cell phones and other mobile devices.
• Have a flashlight with fresh batteries on each floor of your home.
• Assemble an emergency storm kit. Include a battery-powered radio or television, flashlight, a first-aid kit, battery-powered or windup clock, extra batteries, special-needs items, an insulated cooler and a list of important and emergency phone numbers.
• Keep at least a three-day supply of nonperishable food and bottled water and have a hand-operated can opener available.
• Protect your electronic equipment.
• Plug computers and other sensitive equipment into surge suppressors, and consider a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for temporary battery backup power.
• Identify a safe alternate location in case of an extended outage.
• Tune to local news broadcasts for the latest weather and emergency information.
• Follow the advice of local emergency management officials.
• If candles and heaters are used, never leave them unattended, watch children and pets who could knock them over.
• Never operate a generator indoors.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact me directly at 202-872-3137 or by email at aruffin@pepco.com.

Remain safe,

Tony

Tony Ruffin

Government Affairs Manager

Pepco Region – Maryland Governmental & External Affairs

701 9^th Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20068

O: 202-872-3137