Hurricane season is underway and Dominion Energy South Carolina urges customers to plan ahead, starting with assembling an emergency storm kit.
“Every hurricane season is different, and no two storms are the same, but one thing that never changes is the importance of preparation,” said Keller Kissam, president of electric operations for Dominion Energy South Carolina. “One of the important things we do to prepare is trimming trees along thousands of miles of power lines throughout the year on blue-sky days. When storms come, this helps decrease the number and duration of outages our customers experience, and it helps keep our linemen safe as they work to get the lights back on.”
In addition to having staff ready and stocking up on supplies, Dominion Energy South Carolina uses technology such as helicopters to patrol for damage, which assists with quick restoration if customers lose power. The company also uses distribution automation which allows damaged portions of the system to be isolated. In addition to more than 1,000 automated switches and 800 circuit breakers on the system, Dominion Energy South Carolina plans to install another 100 switches this year.
For the first time this hurricane season, Dominion Energy South Carolina will send a rapid response vehicle to assist with a more efficient restoration in neighborhoods with the most severe damage.
Here’s how you can prepare for severe weather:
Create an emergency storm kit with water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries and cash.
Sign up for text alerts to receive storm updates for your area.
Bookmark Dominion Energy South Carolina’s outage map to stay up-to-date on restoration efforts during a storm.
Fully charge your phone before the storm arrives.
If your power goes out, report it right away at DominionEnergySC.com to assist with a faster restoration. You can also call 1-888-333-4465.
Here’s how you can stay safe during storms:
Beware of downed power lines. Assume they are energized and dangerous. Stay at least 30 feet away and call Dominion Energy immediately at 1-888-333-4465.
Properly connect your generator. Ensure it is fueled and tested before the severe weather arrives. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and always operate outdoors with good ventilation.
