PPL Electric Utilities is calling nearly 3,000 customers who are expected to be without power for 24 hours or more because of the early-season snowstorm that brought down tree limbs and power lines in central Pennsylvania.

Since snow began falling late Tuesday afternoon (10/29), crews have restored power to about 50,000 customers, most in the central Susquehanna Valley around Sunbury and Bloomsburg.

"We are calling customers to update them on our efforts to restore service, let them know they could be without power until well into the night and give them information on available services to help them through the outage," said John F. Sipics, vice president of Asset Management for PPL Electric Utilities.

PPL Electric Utilities is working with local and state emergency management officials to address the needs of customers without electricity. The American Red Cross is setting up a shelter in the Selinsgrove area for customers who will be without power tonight.

In addition, PPL Electric Utilities has arranged locations where customers may pick up dry ice to keep food from spoiling and drinking water for customers who have wells operated by electric pumps.

"We sent all available work crews from our 29-county service area to help restore electric service in the Susquehanna Valley," Sipics said. "Crews have been working around the clock, and will continue until every customer has power restored."

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday (10/30), about 12,000 customers were without power, nearly all of them in areas along the Susquehanna River in central Pennsylvania including Northumberland, Snyder, Union, Montour and Columbia counties.

"We have more than 200 employees – line crews and support personnel – plus help from tree trimming services and other contractors working on repairs to our power lines and equipment," Sipics said.

The company is projecting that service will be restored to all customers by about 2 a.m. Thursday (10/31).

Damage was especially severe during this storm because it occurred so early in the season, Sipics noted. Several inches of heavy, wet snow added too much weight to trees that still have most of their leaves.

PPL Electric Utilities reminds customers to stay far away from wires on the ground, even if they appear to be "dead." Customers who see downed wires should call PPL Electric Utilities (1-800-342-5775) or local emergency officials immediately.