Dominion Virginia Power Working to Restore Service to Customers Affected By Winter Storm

- Power has been restored to more than 75 percent of the 40,000 affected

- Don't assume neighbors have reported your outage; call 1-866-DOM-HELP to report it

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Feb 20, 2012, 09:46 ET

RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion Virginia Power crews have restored power to more than 30,000 of the 40,000 customers affected by the weekend snowstorm.

"We are focused on getting the lights back on for our customers quickly while maintaining safety as our first priority – safety of our customers and safety of our crews," said Rodney Blevins, vice president of electric distribution operations.

The vast majority of restoration work is expected to be completed late tonight. Regional estimated restoration times will be available around noon today, and estimates for individual customers will become available as crews arrive and assess local conditions. Storm restoration information is available online at http://www.dom.com/storm-center/index.jsp

Dominion crews from unaffected areas of the state are assisting in restoration efforts in Central Virginia, Charlottesville and the Shenandoah Valley, where the impact of the heavy, wet snow – twice as wet as typical snow - was most severe. Snow-laden trees and tree limbs and motor vehicle accidents caused damage to wires, utility poles and pole cross arms.

"Please stay away from downed lines and anything touching them – assume they are energized, and report them by calling 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357)," Blevins said. "We also ask that you help protect our linemen when you see them on the roadside making emergency repairs by moving over from the lane nearest the workers or by slowing down until you pass the site of the repairs."

Customers should call 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357) to report an outage and not count on their neighbors to report it. The company does not automatically know when most customers have lost service. Reporting an outage promptly – even if neighbors have done so – speeds the restoration process.

When calling Dominion, please have your account number or the phone number that is listed on your account ready so you can move through the automated system to report your outage or receive an update. Customers who have online accounts can report outages online and ask to be contacted by telephone when outage restoration information becomes available.

The calls will be answered by an automated voice response unit, which is the quickest way to report an outage or downed power line, or by call-center representatives. Customers who have online accounts can report outages online and ask to be contacted by telephone when outage restoration information becomes available.

The company will update its website, www.dom.com, with information about the storm restoration. A Twitter feed www.twitter.com/DomVAPower and Facebook page www.facebook.com/dominionvirginiapower also are available.

The highest priority for power restoration is always given to public safety and emergency facilities such as hospitals, emergency 911 call centers, and municipal water pumping stations. A video description of the storm restoration process is available online at http://www.dom.com/storm-center/how-we-restore-power.jsp.

If your electricity is interrupted:

Turn off major appliances such as heat pumps, water heaters and stoves. Unplug other appliances such as TVs, stereos, microwaves and computers. This will prevent damage to appliances and possible overloads to the company's system when power is restored.
Post a list of contents on your freezer door to minimize the number of times you open it.
Leave one lamp or light on so you will be able to recognize when power is restored.
If using portable or camp-type stoves or lanterns for cooking and lighting, ensure that the area is adequately ventilated.

After the storm

Listen to your local radio station on your car or battery-powered radio for regular news and weather updates. Don't rely on your neighbors to report your outage. Call Dominion at 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357).
Stay away from fallen wires, flooded areas and debris. Treat all fallen wires and anything touching them as though they are energized.
Follow safe operating procedures for generators. Never operate one inside your home or in an enclosed space, such as a garage.
Do not connect portable generators directly to the electrical system of your home. Electricity could flow backward onto Dominion's power lines and endanger lives. Either have a qualified electrician perform the work or plug appliances directly into the generator using the proper-sized extension cords.
Exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide and can be deadly, so run your generator outside with proper ventilation. Store the fuel for your generator safely.
Visually inspect the area around your electricity meter. If you detect or suspect any damage, call the company toll-free at 1-866-DOM-HELP.

Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 28,000 megawatts of generation. Dominion operates the nation's largest natural gas storage system and serves retail energy customers in 15 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at www.dom.com.

Follow us on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/DomVAPower. 'Like' us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dominionvirginiapower .

SOURCE Dominion Virginia Power