Delmarva Power and Delaware Electric Cooperative has advised customers that lengthy power outages are possible as Winter Storm Jonas brings high winds and blizzard conditions.
The two utilities cover much of the state, with municipal systems in Dover, Middletown, Newark providing service in those cities and towns.
Outages have been scattered around the state, Delmarva reported. Delaware Electric reported fewer than 600 customers affected by outages.
Delmarva Power has restored power to more than 29,000 customers since winter storm Jonas began. As of 1 p.m. Saturday, the utility reported fewer than 1,000 customers without power. The hardest hit areas are in Sussex County, DE and in Worcester County, MD.
“Our system has not experienced extensive damage, but this storm is far from over, said Gary Stockbridge, president, Delmarva Power Region. “We will work around the clock as quickly and safely as possible to restore any outages that may occur, but customers need to be prepared for the possibility of service interruptions that could last multiple days depending on how severe the damage could be to the electric system.”
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the region that calls for snow, sleet, rain and gusty winds= tonight through the weekend The utility and cooperative advised customers that multi-day outages are not out of the question.
Delmarva noted that sustained high winds would hamper efforts to restore power since bucket equipment cannot operate safely when sustained winds reach 35 miles an hour.
Delmarva has crews standing by, with additional resources available. Utilities in the region have been asking crews from other areas not affected by the storm to assist if needed.
Delmarva and Delaware Electric advised customers to be prepared for an extended outage and for those with medical conditions that require specialized equipment to make arrangements.
Risks include heavy, wet snow and sustained winds. Power poles can also be damaged by vehicles losing control on icy roads.
If a portable generator is needed, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use only when necessary, Delmarva advised.
Customers should not directly connect a generator directly to the home’s wiring. If a generator is plugged into the electrical circuits of a home, power can back-feed into Delmarva Power lines, which can injure or kill utility workers fixing downed power lines. It also can cause downed lines to have electrcity.
