Pepco Restoring Power in Wake of Tornado; Utility Poles, Wires Down; Dry Ice Distribution Planned

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25  -- Pepco repair crews worked today to replace dozens of utility poles, restring power cables and replace transformers in suburban Maryland in the wake of Monday night's tornado. The company also is arranging to distribute dry ice to customers still without power.

The storm extensively damaged Pepco's distribution system in the College Park and Beltsville, Md., area where the tornado uprooted or broke about 60 poles, downed wires and blacked out two electrical substations. Crews worked through the night and by morning had restored service to about 8,000 customers, leaving 12,000 still without power today.

Major sections of Pepco's system in the tornado-ravaged area need to be rebuilt. Pepco immediately mobilized for a major reconstruction job and assigned crews to 12-hour shifts. The company has more than 100 crews working with more enroute from other utilities. Additional Pepco contractors were brought in along with 21 Conectiv field crews that had driven through the night from Maryland's Eastern Shore, Delaware and southern New Jersey. Conectiv is the Wilmington, Del.-based utility in the process of merging with Pepco.

Pepco expects to begin distributing dry ice later today once arrangements for a convenient location are completed.

Because of the extensive damage in the area, Pepco is unable at this time to provide a precise estimate for full restoration of power to all customers.