PPL Electric Utilities is prepared for additional power outages expected across the state as high winds batter the region following 24 hours of soaking rain.

“We have been fully staffed all weekend in preparation for the storm, but we know the worst may be yet to come,” said Dave Schleicher, general manager of Transmission and Distribution for PPL Electric Utilities. “Our crews have responded to hundreds of calls to report damage, mostly due to tree branches falling onto wires. Until the winds let up, we expect to continue receiving reports of new power outages from our customers.”

To report power outages or downed power lines, customers may call PPL Electric Utilities toll free at 1-800-342-5775. For their personal safety, customers should stay away from downed wires, even if the wires appear to be “dead.” They should not try to move or drive over wires.

PPL Electric Utilities crews and support personnel have been restoring power to customers since early Monday (4/16), when high winds and wet snow across parts of eastern and central Pennsylvania began to bring down trees and power lines.

The company has restored electric service to more than 10,000 customers. As of 10 a.m. Monday, about 48,000 customers were without power.

Most of the damage has occurred in the central and eastern portion of the company’s service area, including Frackville, Panther Valley and the Poconos.

PPL Electric Utilities has moved crews from the Harrisburg, Lancaster and Williamsport areas — where damage was not as severe — to help restore power in the hardest hit areas.

“Utilities up and down the East Coast are dealing with similar wind damage in the areas they serve so, at least initially, we have to rely on our own crews to restore service,” Schleicher said. “Many of our employees have been working 16-hour shifts and will continue to work until every customer has electricity back on.”

PPL Electric Utilities has contacted emergency management agencies in the hardest hit counties to work cooperatively with the counties as they assist residents with special needs who have been affected by power outages.

PPL Electric Utilities Corporation, a subsidiary of PPL Corporation that provides electricity delivery services to about 1.4 million customers in Pennsylvania, has consistently ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United States. Headquartered in Allentown, Pa., PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) controls more than 11,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in key U.S. markets and delivers electricity to more than 5 million customers in Pennsylvania, the United Kingdom and Latin America.

Note to Editors: Click here to visit our media Web site for updates on storm restoration efforts and the number of customers without power throughout our service territory. During storm emergencies, a link is activated near the top right of our newsroom page. To view this information, reporters must subscribe to media access on the PPL Newsroom Web site by clicking here.