ComEd Quickly Mobilizes to Restore Power to Customers Affected by Major Storm

CHICAGO, Feb. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- ComEd has mobilized more than 100 crews overnight to repair downed power lines and damaged equipment after a massive storm that hit its service territory. More than 45,000 customers already have been restored since the storm began. Currently, approximately 78,000 customers remain without power.

Poor road conditions are expected to become more treacherous throughout the night which will mean delays in power restoration. ComEd crews are battling slick and icy roads, blizzard conditions, high winds and road closures. The safety of crews and customers is paramount.

As the storm continues, ComEd crews are working tirelessly around the clock to safely restore power and will continue to do so until all customers are restored. With wind gusts as high as 50 miles per hour and wind chills as low as three below zero and deep snow conditions, this extreme weather can create unsafe conditions that will delay restoration efforts

Customers in communities throughout northern Illinois have been affected, with the largest number of outages located in ComEd's Chicago region.

As of 9:30 p.m., outages by region are:

Chicago: 46,000

North: 9,300

South: 18,000

West: 4,600

In preparation for the storm and its potential impact to the electrical system, ComEd called in extra crews for emergency repairs and increased staffing at the customer care centers.

To report an outage, customers can visit ComEd.com Storm Center or call 1-800-EDISON1. For updates on the storm restoration process, customers can visit ComEd.com Storm Center. For additional updates customers also can subscribe to our Outage Alert program and receive text messages that alert them of estimated restoration times and other important outage information affecting ComEd service. ComEd does not charge customers for this notification. To register, log on to ComEd.com, click on the "Customer Service" tab, Outage Information, then Outage Alerts.

Safety is paramount:

• Never approach a downed power line. Always presume a power line is energized and extremely dangerous.
• Anyone encountering a downed power line is urged to immediately call ComEd at 1-800-EDISON1 (1-800-334-7661) and report the location. Spanish-speaking customers should call 1-800-95-LUCES (1-800-955-8237).
• We urge customers to check on the elderly and other sensitive family members and neighbors to ensure their safety and make alternate arrangements, as it may be some time before their power is restored.

Recommended preparations for a potential outage include having the following items on hand:

• Flashlights and fresh batteries
• Blankets
• A battery-powered radio
• A battery-powered or wind-up clock
• A three-day supply of bottled water equal to one gallon of water per day per person
• Canned and high-energy foods like dried fruit or candy
• A fully charged cellular phone
• Emergency telephone numbers

ComEd also offers the following suggestions for customers experiencing a prolonged outage:

• Turn off all appliances including your furnace, water heater, and water pump.
• Leave a lamp on so you can know when power has been restored.
• Keep freezer and refrigerator doors closed and open them only when necessary. Food will stay frozen for 36 to 48 hours in a fully loaded freezer, if the door remains closed. A half-full freezer will generally keep food frozen for 24 hours.

Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), one of the nation's largest electric utilities with approximately 5.4 million customers. ComEd provides service to approximately 3.8 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population.

SOURCE ComEd

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