PP&L, Inc. line crews will work through the night to restore service to about 15,000 customers in the Lehigh Valley left without power because of an ice storm that struck the area Friday.
Ice buildup that is nearly a half-inch thick in some places is causing tree limbs to sag into power lines, or break and fall across power lines. Because of the extensive damage to power lines and equipment, PP&L does not expect to restore service completely until late Saturday.
"Ice is extremely damaging to our electrical equipment," said Robert M. Geneczko, vice president of Power Delivery for PP&L. "It can also be a safety hazard for the public."
He repeated a call for people to stay clear of downed or low-hanging wires, even if they appear to be "dead." He added that people also should stay away from trees that are coming in contact with power lines.
When a tree limb contacts an overhead power line, current is conducted through the ice that coats the tree and into the ground. People should stay away from ice-laden trees now for much the same reason why they are advised not to seek shelter under trees during electrical storms.
Geneczko asked for customer patience and understanding. He said PP&L crews are working as quickly as possible to repair damaged power lines and equipment, and restore electrical service.
Since the storm began early this morning, PP&L crews have restored service to about 37,000 customers across its service area, including more than 27,000 in the Lehigh Valley.
Crews from the Poconos, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Scranton and Schuylkill County have been summoned to the Lehigh Valley to help with the storm recovery. Even with the extra manpower, PP&L expects power to be out in some areas for another 24 hours.
Customers who are without power should call PP&L’s toll-free customer service number, 1-800-342-5775 (1-800 DIAL PPL). The company has brought in additional staff to answer customer calls and questions through the night.
PP&L reminds customers who are participating in Pennsylvania’s pilot customer choice program to call 1-800 DIAL PPL for power outages,no matter which company they have selected as an energy supplier.