PSA - Heat Advisory Tips

Dear Consumers,

The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for the Washington Metropolitan area in effect from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., today.  OPC would like to remind consumers of the following safety tips in the event you experience a power outage.

  

What You Can Do

If your power goes out, do not assume that PEPCO is aware of an outage in your area or that a neighbor has called to report an outage. PEPCO needs to hear from every affected customer to help locate problem areas.  Call PEPCO's 24-hour outage report line - 1-877-PEPCO-62 (1-877-737-2662). If you cannot use your home phone, it is still important to call and follow all the phone prompts. Make sure PEPCO has a working phone number where you can be reached about service restoration.

  

Electricity customers can take simple electricity conservation steps: 

• Close curtains and blinds to keep out the sun and retain cooler air inside,
• Postpone using major electric household appliances such as stoves, dishwashers and clothes dryers until the cooler evening hours,
• If health permits, set air conditioner thermostats higher than usual, and
• Turn off electric appliances and equipment that you do not need or are not using.

Keep the following numbers handy:

D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency Hotline, (202) 727-6161. HSEMA may provide transportation to a cooling center or on site cooling buses for residents. 

PEPCO Safety Emergency, (202) 872-3432 -- to report wires down

PEPCO Claims Office, (202) 872-2455 -- to request a form for electric service related damages

OPC (202) 727-3071 -- to obtain any information or assistance

Turn off electric appliances and equipment that you do not need or are not using.

Check on elderly and at-risk friends and family to make sure they have access to plenty of water, a telephone and food.