PPL Electric Utilities has called in crews from neighboring utilities to help restore power to customers in central Pennsylvania affected by a stubborn early-season snowstorm that brought down tree limbs and power lines.

The 25 outside crews from Orange and Rockland Utilities and PECO are assisting the more than 200 employees, including line crews and support personnel, tree trimming services and other contractors, who have been working on repairs to power lines and equipment since the storm began late Tuesday (10/29) afternoon.

As of early this morning (10/31), crews working around the clock had restored service to about 65,000 customers who lost power during the storm, most in the central Susquehanna Valley around Sunbury and Bloomsburg. Most of the remaining 2,500 customers should have their power restored by late this afternoon, and the entire restoration is expected to be completed by later this evening.

"We will continue to call customers to update them on our efforts to restore service and give them information on what we’re doing to clean up the storm damage," said John F. Sipics, vice president of Asset Management for PPL Electric Utilities. "With the assistance of the additional line crews, we will continue our work until every customer in this hard-hit region has power restored. We have experienced crews in the affected areas that will get this job done."

The American Red Cross set up a shelter in the Selinsgrove area for customers who did not have power Wednesday (10/30) night. PPL Electric Utilities arranged locations where customers could pick up dry ice to keep food from spoiling and drinking water for customers who have wells operated by electric pumps.

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.