NEW HAVEN, CT - The United Illuminating Company (UI) is closely monitoring Hurricane Irene, a Category 3 (as of Thursday) storm that could affect Northeastern coastal states by Sunday.
Current National Weather Service projections show Irene heading directly for the Southern New England coastline. The United Illuminating Company (UI) is closely monitoring Irene’s path. Storm preparation is under way, and UI stands ready to dispatch crews and equipment as conditions dictate.
“We advise our customers to follow weather forecasts closely for the next few days and make preparations as Irene approaches our area,” said Anthony J. Vallillo, executive vice president and chief operating officer of UIL Holdings Corporation, UI’s parent company.
As of 2 p.m. Thursday, the storm was over the Bahamas and moving north-northwest at 13 miles per hour, packing maximum sustained wind speeds of 115 mph. National Weather Service forecasts call for Irene to strengthen as it hugs the U.S. Atlantic coast, potentially reaching the Carolinas Saturday and the Northeastern coastline late Sunday into Monday morning.
Although it is difficult to project a hurricane’s exact path, UI customers should prepare for the possibility of a loss of electrical service in the event that Irene brings heavy rain and strong winds to the region. Residents should make sure they have several days’ worth of non-perishable food and bottled water available, as well as other necessary supplies such as flashlights, batteries, first-aid kits, and battery-operated radios.
For more storm preparation tips, consult the accompanying checklist or visit UI’s Storm Center at www.uinet.com.
Should Irene affect the region, UI customers should report any loss of power or damaged electrical equipment by calling 1-800-7-CALL-UI (1-800-722-5584), or 203-499-3333 in the greater New Haven calling area. UI’s automated outage reporting system will record and report the outage.
If you see downed or dangling power lines, or other damaged equipment, always assume they are live and dangerous. Stay far away and call 911, then report the condition to UI at the numbers above.
Storms and other weather conditions usually have minimal impact on natural gas distribution systems. However, any disruption of service or odor of natural gas should be reported immediately. Customers of UIL gas utilities can contact the numbers below:
Berkshire Gas Company: 800-292-5012
Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation: 866-924-5325
Southern Connecticut Gas Company: 800-513-8898
About UIL Holdings Corporation:
Headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut, UIL Holdings Corporation (NYSE:UIL) is a diversified energy delivery company serving a total of 690,000 electric and natural gas utility customers in 66 communities across two states, with combined total assets of over $4 billion.
UIL is the parent company of The United Illuminating Company (UI), Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation (CNG), The Southern Connecticut Gas Company (SCG), and The Berkshire Gas Company (BGC), each more than 100 years old. UI provides for the transmission and delivery of electricity and other energy related services for Connecticut's Greater New Haven and Bridgeport areas. SCG and CNG are natural gas distribution companies that serve customers in Connecticut, while Berkshire Gas serves natural gas customers in western Massachusetts. UIL employs more than 1,850 people in the New England region.
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THE UNITED ILLUMINATING COMPANY
Storm Checklist & Preparation Tips
Perform a Storm Inventory:
Take an inventory of your home and stock up on any supplies you might need.
? Drinking water
? Non-perishable canned or dried food (check expiration dates)
? Manual can opener
? Flashlights
? Candles/Oil Lamps
? Matches
? First-aid kit
? Battery-operated radio or TV
? Battery-operated clock
? Batteries (various sizes)
? Fully-charged mobile phone to report outages/emergencies
? List of key contacts stored in phone’s memory, plus a paper copy
? Mobile phone charger for automobile
Other household equipment:
? Make sure you have a household phone that doesn’t need to be plugged in to an electrical outlet. Most cordless telephones don’t work when the power is off.
? If you have an electric garage door, be sure you know how to operate it manually.
Generators:
If you have a home generator, be sure it is installed by a licensed electrician. The generator must be connected to your home’s wiring through a special transfer switch to ensure that the house wires are isolated from the utility wires so that UI lines cannot be energized by your generator.
Medical equipment:
If you or someone in your home uses electronic life-support or medical-monitoring equipment, you should have a back-up plan in case you lose power in a storm. UI has a program to register “life support” customers. Call 800-7-CALL-UI (800-722-5584) to find out more.
Report problems:
Always assume downed power lines are live and dangerous, and be mindful of natural gas odors. If you see a downed power line, need to report an electrical power outage, or smell natural gas, please call your utility toll-free with the location and any specifics.
§ The United Illuminating Company: 800-7-CALL-UI (1-800-722-5584)
§ Southern Connecticut Gas Company: 800-513-8898
§ Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation: 1-866-924-5325
§ Berkshire Gas Company: 800-292-5012
If You Lose Power:
If you have Internet access on a laptop or mobile phone, you can visit www.uinet.com to see outages throughout our service territory on our Outage Map and Town Outage List. You can learn about our process for restoring power on the Restoration Priorities page.
Keep sensitive electronic appliances such as computers, TVs, stereos and VCRs plugged into a surge protector. They could be damaged if a power surge occurs when electricity is restored.
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Food may last up to 24 hours if the doors are kept shut.
Storm Cleanup:
Take note of any overhead lines before cleaning gutters or performing other outdoor work at home.
When carrying ladders and long-handled tools, check your path to make sure you won’t cross overhead lines.
Always keep yourself and your equipment at least 10 feet away from overhead lines, including lines from the pole to your home.
Assume that all overhead lines are energized, even if you’ve lost power, unless your utility or a licensed electrician informs you otherwise.
Use only non-conductive ladders when working near overhead power lines.
Natural gas customers should keep sidewall vents clear of debris, leaves and vegetation.
Lightning Safety:[*]
If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you. Take shelter immediately.
If possible, remain indoors. Keep windows and doors shut, and stay away from them.
Do not use corded phones, computers or other equipment that puts you in direct contact with electricity. Avoid plumbing, including sinks, baths and faucets.
If you are outdoors, take shelter in your car if possible. Keep the windows and doors closed.
If you are caught outdoors, stay away from water. If you are at the top of an elevated area, such as a hilltop, get off. Never take shelter under a tree, or near an object that conducts electricity (fences, power lines, windmills, etc.).
If you are caught in the open, find a ditch or low ground and curl into a ball. Do not lie flat on the ground.
If someone is struck, call 911. The victim does not carry a charge, so you may immediately provide medical attention including CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) or AED (automated external defibrillator). Lightning strike victims have a very good chance of recovery if treated quickly.
More storm-related information can be found on The United Illuminating Company’s website, www.uinet.com under Storm Center. For additional assistance, call Infoline at 211 or contact the American Red Cross.
