Press Release

Early yesterday morning, Con Edison dispatched a convoy of 11 crews and supervisors to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, to assist Philadelphia-based PECO Energy Company in its electric service restoration efforts following severe weekend thunder storms. Throughout Saturday, approximately 98,000 PECO customers were without electricity as heavy rain and high winds buffeted the area. In order to expedite service restoration to its customers, PECO reached out to neighboring utilities.

"It’s not unusual for us to help out another company that’s been hard hit, provided the crews aren’t needed here in our service area, or are being sent to assist other New York state utilities. This particular storm had minimal effect on our customers, so we were able to say 'yes' to PECO when they called us for help," said Robert W. Donohue, senior vice president, electric operations for Con Edison.

Over the past several years, Con Edison has provided assistance in places that have suffered tremendous devastation to their electrical systems because of severe storm damage. In 1998, company crews played a major role in helping to restore service in parts of upstate New York following an ice storm that blanketed the Northeast. And, the help isn’t just to local areas.

When the Dominican Republic experienced widespread destruction of its electrical system from Hurricane Georges in 1998, Con Edison sent both personnel and equipment to help restore service. The company also sent a team of experts to facilitate restoration efforts when Puerto Rico was hammered by Hurricane Hortense in 1996.

Con Edison is one of the nation’s largest utility companies, with more than $7 billion in annual revenues and $14 billion in assets. The company, a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison Inc., provides electric, gas and steam service to more than three million customers in New York City and Westchester County, New York. For additional financial, operations and customer service information, visit Con Edison’s web site at www.coned.com.