Warning: You May Lose Power Monday Due to Storm

If you live in Central New Jersey, you may experience power outages Monday due to the storm. In fact, PSE&G says it is already preparing for the approaching storm system that could bring heavy rain and gale-force winds. Wind speeds will begin to increase overnight Sunday with gusts of 30 - 35 MPH possible by Monday morning. Gale-force winds can cause flying debris, and bring down trees and power lines.

"Based on all the weather services' forecasts, we are preparing for a busy day tomorrow. We'll have additional personnel scheduled and on standby, with extra tree personnel and equipment at the ready,” said John Latka, senior vice president of electric and gas operations for PSE&G. “Our employees are rechecking that all objects are secured at our stations and division headquarters. We are advising them to prepare their own homes for high winds, and urge our customers to do the same.”

Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) say they, too, expect outages Monday: You can text an outage to JCP&L by texting OUT to 544487; use our smartphone app; report online: http://spr.ly/report

To report downed wires or power outages, call PSE&G’s Customer Service line at 1-800-436-PSEG. Also, customers can report outages by logging into their PSE&G account online or by texting “OUT” to 4PSEG (47734).

Customers should be cautious and stay alert to their surroundings during and after storms:

Downed wires should always be considered “live.” Do not approach or drive over a downed line and do not touch anything it might be in contact with. If a wire falls on or near your car, stay inside the car, call 911, and do not get out until PSE&G deenergizes the line. If you MUST get out of the vehicle because it is on fire, jump as far as possible away from the vehicle, with both feet landing on the ground at the same time, and hop or shuffle away. In July, a woman in Fanwood was killed after she got out of her car amidst live wires. The 26-year-old woman was electrocuted to death.