Friday, October 26, 2012
The Maryland Public Service Commission today eliminated the storm bill stabilization 24-hour grace period.
Effectively immediately, Pepco and BGE customers will not be charged for sales lost during the first 24 hours of major storm power outages, by order of the Maryland Public Service Commission. Area residents this summer were outraged to find themselves charged for power during the weeklong outages caused by the June 29 derecho. The charges came as part of a Bill Stabilization Adjustment program, which allowed utilities to bill customers for the first 24 hours after a power outage, effectively charging customers for power when they have none. The program was designed to increase efficiency, according to the commission. Friday's orders, affecting Baltimore Gas and Electric Company, Delmarva Power and Light Company, Potomac Electric Power …
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Pepco reporting several Bethesda power outages.
Following the severe thunderstorms that swept through Montgomery County Wednesday afternoon, Pepco is reporting several outages in Bethesda zip codes. Sixty-three outages were reported in 20817, eight in 20814 and less than five in 20816, 20818 and 20812. However, more outages appeared to be affecting at least the 20816 zip code, with portions of the Sangamore neighborhood and all of the Shoppes at Sumner Place shopping plaza in the dark. Power outages can be reported to Pepco by calling 1-877-PEPCO-62 (1-877-737-2662). Are you out of power following Wednesday's severe thunderstorms? Tell us in the comments.
Severe thunderstorm warning issued; Pepco issues statement in advance of storms.
Update, 5:15 p.m.: A flash flood warning has been issued for Montgomery through 7 p.m., ABC7 reports. Update, 5 p.m. The severe thunderstorm warning for Montgomery County has been extended through 6 p.m., WTOP reports. Update, 4:45 p.m.: Montgomery County is under a severe thunderstorm warning until 5:15 p.m., ABC7 reports. Original post: The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Montgomery County at 3 p.m. and skies in Bethesda are already turning ominous. In advance of the potential storms, Pepco released the following statement Wednesday afternoon: In anticipation of severe thunderstorms, Pepco has scheduled additional line personnel, and Call Center personnel to work overnight. Pepco will continue to monitor …
Monday, July 9, 2012
“This was meant to be the day I was going to die," says Susan Riley. "I’ve got to find him.”
June 29 was the day Susan Riley says she was fated to die, bleeding from the head as a fallen tree lay across her car roof, crushing it. She was driving on Old Georgetown Road just south of the busy intersection with Democracy Boulevard in Bethesda when the powerful, violent storm that made national headlines swept through Montgomery County. It was at that moment that a large tree limb slammed down on her car, crushing the roof of her Toyota and leaving her with a gash in her head that would later take 40 surgical staples to close. It it hadn't been for a Good Samaritan coming to her aid in a pickup truck, Riley says she likely would have bled to death. Ironically, the accident happened just yards from the cemetery where her mother, father…
Sunday, July 8, 2012
A Severe Weather Alert was issued for both counties through this evening.
Update, 11:50 p.m.: The severe thunderstorm warning has been extended to 12:30 a.m. July 9. The National Weather Service warns that there will be ground to cloud lighting and people should move indoors. Original Post, 4:45 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch until 10 p.m., with the worst of the predicted storm moving through the area sometime around 5 p.m. NWS describes it as a dangerous line of storms. "If you are in its path, move indoors to a sturdy building and stay away from windows." the forecasters stated. The storm could produce winds up to 60 MPH and large hail. A heat advisory remains in effect through 8 p.m. this evening. According to spokespeople for Pepco and Baltimore Gas & Electric, all …
Insightful, funny, even occasionally outrageous comments from Patch readers. This week: The Storm.
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Sunday, July 8, 2012
Patch readers in the Washington, DC, region were outspoken in weighing in on the giant storm that devastated the area. Some were fearful, some concerned and many were angry. Here's some of what they had to say - uncensored. -- Severe Storm Warning Friday Night The amount of wind that came through Germantown in a short time was scary and amazing! This tree went down in our neighbors front yard right as we were going to move the cars. It happened very quickly. No idea of damage to their cars at the moment, but glad its not a house or anyone hurt. -Nakeva Corothers Part of the roof on my apartment building got blown off. Scary. -Phil We had a large branch from an old tree crash onto our back porch barely missing the window. It was dark when…
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Top news from around Montgomery County this week.
Trial Date Set for Belward Farm, JHU Case The development dispute between the successors of Belward Farm and Johns Hopkins University is one small but significant step closer to a resolution after a scheduling hearing Friday. Judge Ronald Rubin set a trial date for Nov. 13, and the the lead plaintiff's public relations representative said she expects proceedings to end Nov. 19. The resolution would determine whether JHU can build a "Science City" on the 138-acre farm. Read more at North Potomac Patch. Gaithersburg Residents Stranded After Storm, Plea For Help Residents cut off from emergency access described a frustrating waiting game in the wake of Friday's destructive storm system. Tammy Hartwell of the Sharon Woods neighborhood said she…
Friday, July 6, 2012
More than 2,300 customers remained in the dark in Bethesda, Glen Echo and Cabin John Thursday evening.
Nearly a week after a derecho storm swept through Montgomery County, more than 2,300 homes in Bethesda, Glen Echo and Cabin John remained in the dark as of Thursday evening. The ZIP code with the highest number of remaining Montgomery County power outages was in Potomac, with just over 1,787 customers affected, according to the utility's online outage map. The Bethesda and North Bethesda ZIP codes of 20817 and 20852 followed close behind with 1,125 and 1,325 outages reported. In downtown Bethesda, 911 outages persisted and 281 remained in 20812, 20816 and 20818. Estimated times of power restoration remain Friday at 11 p.m. for many of the customers. Countywide, Pepco expected to close in on 100 percent restoration by Friday. However, some …
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Some residents still left in the dark and heat nearly a week after Friday's damaging derecho storm.
It may take until Sunday to restore some remaining power outages in Montgomery County, according to Pepco. Nearly a week after Friday’s violent storm, 17,200 remained in the dark in the county Thursday, with concentrations near Bethesda, Potomac, Rockville, Silver Spring and Wheaton, according to Pepco Spokesman Clay Anderson. By Wednesday, the utility had achieved 90 percent restoration – a number initially projected to take until Friday night. Thursday, Pepco had reached 98 percent restoration, and expected to be “very close to 100 percent” by Friday, Anderson said. “Overwhelmingly, our customers have been restored,” Anderson said. “But that in no way diminishes our efforts. In fact, it accelerates them, because we want everyone to be …
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Several Prince George's and Montgomery County residents share their power outage issues, storm stories and thoughts on Pepco.
How are you recovering from the storm? Tell us in the comments.
Al Carr
4:15 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
Members of the General Assembly have been pushing for this change for a while now. I am glad that the PSC has finally seen the light. http://mlis.state.md.us/2011rs/billfile/hb1278.htm more ›