NOVEC crews preparing for snow expected Friday and Saturday

Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative is preparing for snow that weather forecasters say could reach Northern Virginia on Friday, Jan. 22.

“If we get heavy wet snow or ice, we could have trees and branches falling on power lines and causing outages,” Larry Shaffer, vice president, System Operations, was quoted as saying in a press release.

Whatever type of precipitation falls, Shaffer assures that all NOVEC crews will be ready to restore electric service as quickly and safely as possible: “Our crews are preparing utility vehicles for snowy road conditions. Damage assessors are preparing to work with tree crews to locate trees and branches that fall on power lines. And our System Operations Center is scheduling all hands on deck.”

Shaffer warns customers to never go anywhere near a downed power line. “If you see a line that’s down, assume it’s energized and deadly. Keep others far away and report it to us immediately at 703-335-0500 or 1-888-335-0500, and call 911.”

NOVEC customers urged to prepare now for power outages

Customers should provide NOVEC with up to two current phone numbers to expedite outage reporting and power restoration. Customers who have not registered their numbers should call 703-335-0500 or 1-888-335-0500 to associate their numbers with their accounts.

Charge cellphones; cordless phones don’t work when power is out.

Develop a plan for elderly or disabled family members.

Have an emergency kit with non-perishable food, water, flashlights with fresh batteries, battery-operated radio, lanterns, canned fuel, matches or a switch-utility lighter, manual can opener, and first aid. If applicable, have enough prescription drugs, pet food, and baby-care items.

Stock up on firewood for a wood-burning fireplace or stove. Cover wood with a tarp or stack some in a carport to keep it dry.

Fill the freezer with ice and have a cooler ready for refrigerated foods.

What to Do If Power Goes Out

“If a customer loses power, he or she should call NOVEC to report it,” instructs Shaffer. “Customer service representatives may answer the phone, but our automated interactive voice response system works faster because it reports your outage to the control center immediately and you will hear the latest updates in the process.”

Customers with access to the Internet can report outages at http://www.novec.com They .can also use NOVEC’s smartphone application available at http://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 NOVEC’s website.

If an outage occurs, Shaffer advises customers to:

Open freezers and refrigerators only when necessary.

Open exterior doors only when necessary.

Run portable generators, camp stoves, or grills only outdoors to avoid carbon-monoxide poisoning.

About NOVEC

NOVEC, headquartered in Manassas, is a not-for-profit corporation that distributes electricity and energy services to more than 160,000 customers in Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Stafford and Clarke counties, the City of Manassas Park, and Clifton,