PUC: Storm Recovery Moving Ahead, But Work Remains
Power Back for Many, But 130K+ Still Out After Historic SWPA Storms
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today noted the significant progress made by electric utilities across the Commonwealth in restoring service to hundreds of thousands of customers following a powerful and fast-moving storm system earlier this week, while continuing to emphasize the need for sustained restoration efforts and clear communication with consumers.
At the height of the storm Tuesday evening, more than 557,000 electric customers were without service due to widespread damage to utility infrastructure – including downed wires, broken poles, fallen trees, and storm debris. As of midday Friday, the number of outages had been reduced to approximately 136,000 customers, reflecting a concerted effort by utilities and mutual aid crews to repair extensive storm-related damage and safely restore service.
“While there is still important work to be done, the progress made since Tuesday night is a credit to the dedicated crews working around the clock to assist impacted communities,” said PUC Chairman Steve DeFrank. “We continue to monitor these efforts closely and encourage utilities to …