NOVEC has had few power outages despite blizzard

January 23, 2016

Contact: NOVEC Public Relations, 1-888-335-0500, customerservice@novec.com

MANASSAS, Va., Saturday evening, Jan. 23, 2016 —The Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative has had relatively few power outages on Jan. 23 despite powerful winds and two feet of snow that have turned the Mid-Atlantic states white. Line and tree crews have responded to power-outage reports since Saturday morning when Blizzard Jonas intensified in Northern Virginia. 

"The number of outages has been surprisingly low, but working in 30 to 40 mile-per-hour winds in 20 degrees has made service restoration a lot more challenging," notes Larry Shaffer, NOVEC vice president of Electric Systems Operations. "But then again, the wind has been our friend today by blowing snow off trees and branches. Snow-laden trees can cause major widespread outages."  

NOVEC thanks crews from Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania for their assistance all day. 

"We were prepared for the worst," Shaffer says, "and fortunately the worst hasn't happened —at least not at this time. We're hoping the number of outages remains low." 

Shaffer thanks crews that came to help from outside Virginia. "It wasn't easy getting here for crews that had to drive north into the storm. For instance, it took crews from Baldwin EMC in southern Alabama two long days to get here because once they encountered Jonas in North Carolina driving became slow-going and treacherous."  

What to do if the power goes out 

Customers without power should report outages to NOVEC at 703-335-0500 or 1-888-335-0500 and follow the prompts from the Interactive Voice Recognition system. The IVR system will report the outage to NOVEC's System Operations Center immediately. Customers can also use NOVEC's free app available at www.novec.com/apps or send a text message. To sign up for text messaging, customers can text the keyword NOVECOUT to 85700 or log onto their accounts on www.novec.com. They can learn more about what to do when the power goes out on NOVEC's website.  

NOVEC warns customers to: 

  • Only use electric generators that have been installed by licensed electricians outdoors for the safety of homeowners and NOVEC line technicians.
  • Stay away from downed power lines and assume they are energized. Call NOVEC and 911 immediately.
  • Use flashlights or lanterns instead of candles. If candles must be used, keep them away from children, pets, furnishings, and monitored them at all times.

NOVEC is a not-for-profit electric utility corporation that supplies and distributes electricity and energy-related services to more than 180,000 metered customers in Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Stafford, and Clarke counties, the Town of Clifton, and the City of Manassas Park. It is Virginia’s largest electric cooperative and one of the largest electric companies of its kind in the nation. Learn more at novec.com, or call 703-335-0500. NOVEC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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