Rep. Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery), Majority Chair of the House Consumer Affairs Committee, held a committee meeting Thursday to hear testimony from electric companies on their response to recent storm-related power outages and what they are doing to minimize outages in the future.

Michael Innocenzo, chief operating officer at PECO Energy Company; Dennis Urban, vice president of Finance and Regulatory Affairs at PPL Electric Utilities; and Dave Karafa, president of Pennsylvania Operations for FirstEnergy testified that lessons learned during Hurricanes Irene and Sandy made them better prepared to handle power outages caused by the recent winter storms.

“Thousands of electric customers suffered power interruptions in southeastern and central Pennsylvania during this winter’s storms,” said Rep. Godshall.  “I was impressed with the speed at which these companies were able to mobilize volunteers from power companies all over the northeast and mid-Atlantic region to get power restored.”

Company officials said falling tree limbs are largely to blame for power outages, but wind, ice and animal contact can also knock out power.  In the southeast, about 715,000 PECO customers lost power during February’s Winter Storm Nika – the second most damaging storm in company history. 

Innocenzo said his company had a few days to prepare for the storm, which enabled them to increase staffing and arrange for outside crews.  In addition to widespread power outages, Innocenzo said falling trees resulted in more than 800 road closures in PECO territory.

He said during the crisis crews worked around the clock while the company responded to customer calls and kept the public abreast of the situation through the news media, social media and the company’s customer call center.

Urban testified that falling tree limbs were mostly to blame for knocking out power to 92,000 PPL customers during the same winter storm.  About 74,000 of the customers affected were in Lancaster County.  Urban said about 60 percent had their power restored the same day and everyone was back on line in three days. 

He said timely and accurate customer communication is essential during times of emergency.  In addition to fielding about 17,000 phone calls, PPL communicated with many thousands of additional customers via mobile devices, through its website and by social media.

Karafa testified that Winter Storm Nika interrupted service to 136,000 – or about 25 percent − of FirstEnergy’s Met-Ed customers. He said advance planning and effective communication are key to his company’s efforts to mitigate storm damage and ensure the safety and comfort of its customers.  Karafa said FirstEnergy will spend about $460 million this year to upgrade its equipment and infrastructure and to trim trees around power lines.

“In all, about 925,000 electric customers lost power in that storm, which equates to well over 2 million Pennsylvania citizens,” said Rep. Godshall. “The weather patterns we have been experiencing over the past several years are changing the way our utilities build and maintain the infrastructure needed to keep the lights on. I was pleased to learn that they are getting more aggressive in cutting back trees and other vegetation around utility lines, and that they are also beginning to use stronger lines and utility poles.

“The public is benefitting from the lessons learned in these storms.  Improved communication and coordination between community leaders, emergency personnel and the utilities is resulting in faster restoration of power.  The public is also receiving timely information on the availability of shelters, water, food and essential services,” Rep. Godshall said.

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3/31/2014