Contact: Priscilla Knight, 703-392-1580, pknight@novec.com

NORTHERN VIRGINIA – The Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative crews are still working around the clock on Feb. 7, 2010, to restore power to the remaining 8,000 customers without power.

Allen Barbee, NOVEC vice president of electric systems operations, says with high winds and freezing temperatures expected during the week, customers without power should prepare for outages that may extend for several days.  

NOVEC Operations Center Supervisor Greg Williamson says, “Our crews are facing lots of road access problems, but VDOT has been a tremendous help in getting roads open for us. Our first priority is to get all our substation circuits back on. We started the day with seven circuits out of service. We are currently down to only one circuit out of service. We expect to have it back on today. As secondary roads and side streets become passable, our trucks and crews are getting to subdivisions and individual outages. To restore all service will take at least a couple more days of around-the-clock effort.”  

Williamson says almost all outages are due to snow-laden trees and branches falling on power lines. “It’s amazing,” noted Williamson. “One line had nine trees on it!”  

“NOVEC crews are working to reconnect customers and remove trees and branches from power lines in very dangerous conditions,” says Mike Curtis, vice president of public relations. “Using chain saws and restoring service is risky in good weather, but much more so when you’re up in the air working in harsh weather conditions.” 

Barbee says, “NOVEC crews will continue to work throughout the nights and days to restore power as quickly as possible. Our crews are working hard in this record snowfall to repair damaged power lines with assistance from contracted crews.”  

Customers without power should report their outages by calling NOVEC at 703-335-0500, or 1-888-335-0500.  

NOVEC reminds customers to only use electric generators that have been installed outside by licensed electricians for the safety of homeowners and NOVEC line technicians. In addition, the Co-op warns everyone to stay away from downed power lines. For nighttime light, NOVEC recommends using flashlights or lanterns. Lighted candles should be monitored at all times by adults. Before the next storm occurs, customers should have battery-operated radios to stay informed.