With winter on the way, Delmarva Power has taken steps to prepare the local energy grid to meet increased customer demand and help ensure affordable and reliable energy service all winter long. Crews perform maintenance and inspections to prepare the grid for severe weather and increased customer demand including inspecting and upgrading equipment, trimming trees, building new underground equipment, and rebuilding aerial lines. We are also installing innovative technologies to improve system reliability, such as specialized equipment that can automatically restore service faster or isolate damage.
We also recognize our responsibility to serve customers and we want to help our customers use less energy and keep their bills low this winter season. We are committed to keeping every customer connected with extended payment arrangements and working to help them secure important energy assistance. We care about our customers and have a wide range of payment options we can offer customers based on their individual account and household income. Customers can also avoid seasonal peaks in their energy bill by dividing their payments evenly over the course of the entire year. This plan makes it easier to budget and pay electric bills each month, because customers know their regular payment amount. Many of these arrangements can be made quickly and easily by calling 800-375-7117 or by visiting our website at https://www.delmarva.com/my-account/customer-support. Here, our customers can learn about all of the essential programs we have to help.
Every day, we are committed to providing safe, reliable, affordable and clean energy service, while helping to maintain affordability for our customers and communities. Customers across the service area are continuing to experience improvements in the reliability of their energy service, a result of the company’s ongoing efforts to modernize the local energy grid. Delmarva Power customers experienced the lowest frequency of electric outages ever in 2022 and improved by 47 percent over the past 10 years. This year, crews continue to perform work on major projects to enhance reliability and modernize the local energy grid.
Along with our focus on providing reliable service, we also conduct annual emergency response drills and complete testing of computer and emergency systems as part of our winter preparedness program. Employees from across the company review emergency processes and procedures to help ensure a safe and efficient response to storms or emergencies. As part of the Exelon family of companies, we share best practices with our sister companies (Atlantic City Electric, BGE, ComEd, PECO and Pepco) and participate in emergency response training exercises to ensure we can provide seamless support and resources during a storm or emergency restoration effort. This practice of collaborating and sharing resources demonstrates the benefits of being part of the Exelon family of companies. For example, this past summer, crews from Pepco supported Delmarva Power in response to an August storm system that brought wind gusts of over 75 mph and impacted over 41,000 Delmarva Power customers.
Being prepared is a responsibility that we take very seriously, and we encourage others to do the same. Please help us spread the word in your community about the steps that can be taken to prepare for a winter storm.
· Assemble an emergency storm kit.
· Prepare a plan for what to do during a power outage or winter storm.
· Please confirm we have your current phone number in the “My Alerts and Notifications” section of our website: Delmarva.com/MyAccount .
· Visit delmarva.com/mobileapp to download our mobile app, which has many resources to keep you informed during a storm.
· More tips, resources and safety information are available at .delmarva.com/StormPrep
If a severe storm hits, we monitor local weather reports regularly and follow the advice of local emergency management officials. We follow a strategic response plan to restore service to the greatest number of customers first and will work to restore service in your community safely and as quickly as possible. To learn more about our restoration process, visit delmarva.com/Restoration. Customers are asked to immediately report a downed wire or service issue by calling 1-800-898-8042, visiting delmarva.com or through our mobile app. Delmarva Power customers can also text “Out” to “67972”. Customers must first text “ADD OUTAGE” to “67972” to sign up for this service.
By taking a few simple steps, together we can be ready and stay safe and warm this winter.
