Summer's here. Are you prepared?

Provided/Atlantic City Electric line workers perform an interactive presentation on electrical safety using the company's safety trailer as part of a summer readiness news conference held June 2 in Brigantine.

MAYS LANDING With summer around the corner, Atlantic City Electric has been performing essential work to ready the local energy grid to meet increased customer demand and keep homes and businesses powered all summer long for its 565,000 South Jersey customers. The utility has been working to harden energy infrastructure against the growing impacts of more severe weather as a result of climate change.

Our more than 630 dedicated Atlantic City Electric employees have been working alongside local contractors to ready the local energy grid against the impacts of summer storms, and this work will continue all summer, especially with another forecasted active hurricane season, Atlantic City Electric Region President Doug Mokoid said. The work we are doing is essential to helping ensure continued reliable service for our customers. We also encourage our customers to utilize the many resources we offer to prepare for summer storms and hurricanes, as well as tips and information to save money and energy during the warmer summer months.

Atlantic City Electric has recently completed several key projects to modernize the energy grid and enhance reliability for customers. These projects include:

• Atlantic City/Brigantine Community Reliability Project Modernized an existing substation and rebuilt two critical transmission lines between Atlantic City and Brigantine to strengthen the local energy infrastructure against more extreme weather.


• Atlantic to Ocean Counties Reliability Project Rebuilt 15 miles of critical transmission line running through Port Republic, Bass River Township and Little Egg Harbor Township to improve reliability for thousands of customers.


• Great Egg Harbor Crossing Reliability Project Rebuilt transmission lines across the Great Egg Harbor River between Cape May and Atlantic counties to modernize and strengthen the local energy grid.


• PowerAhead Grid Resiliency Initiative Completed strategic reliability improvement projects across portions of the company's service area to modernize and enhance energy infrastructure in areas that have experienced outages during severe storms. This work included installing more than 70 devices called reclosers which allows service to be restored remotely, and nearly 250 trip savers that automatically restore power connections to homes and businesses.

The work strengthened energy infrastructure against increasingly severe weather and Atlantic City Electric customers experienced the lowest frequency of electric outages ever in 2020 and again in 2021.

In addition, the company has completed hundreds of tasks to prepare for the summer season, including system work, testing and drills to ensure it can provide seamless support and resources during a storm or emergency restoration effort.

Atlantic City Electric advises customers to be ready as well. Here are some tips:

• Assemble an emergency storm kit. Include battery-powered radio, flashlight, a first-aid kit, battery-powered or windup clock, extra batteries, medications, multi-purpose tool, and list of important/emergency phone numbers.


• Have a supply of bottled water and easy-to-prepare, non-perishable foods available to last at least 72 hours.


• Keep a flashlight with fresh batteries on each floor of your home.


• Identify an alternate location for you and/or your family in case of an extended outage.


• It's extremely important to review the manufacturer's instructions for safe operations of your generator. Do not connect a generator directly to your home's wiring, and never use a generator indoors or any enclosed area.


• Download Atlantic City Electric's mobile app at com/MobileApp.


• For a checklist of other items to include in your emergency kit, visit com/StormPrep.

If a severe storm hits, monitor local weather reports regularly and follow the advice of local emergency management officials. Residents should stay away from downed wires and immediately report a downed wire or service issue by calling 800-833-7476, visiting atlanticcityelectric.com, or through the company's mobile app. Customers can also report an outage by texting OUT to 20661. Customers must first text ADD OUTAGE to 20661 to sign up for this service.

As temperatures rise, energy usage typically starts to climb as well. Atlantic City Electric provides important tips and information to empower customers to better manage their energy use and bills.

• Manage your bill on My Account. Online energy management tools show you how much energy you are using. The bill to date feature lets you know what your bill costs are to date at any time during the month. You can also get tips based on your energy saving goals.


• Install energy efficient light bulbs. Energy-efficient LED bulbs use up to 75 percent less energy than standard bulbs and create little heat that can in turn cause cooling devices to work harder.


• Check your thermostat. Set your thermostat a few degrees higher in the summer, if health permits.


• Adjust your blinds. Lower the blinds during the day in the summer to keep the heating effects of the hot sun out.


• More tips and information available at com/SaveEnergy.