With fewer than 15 customers in the Newtown area remaining in the dark on Thursday, PECO said most remaining customers without service should be back on by Friday.
As heavy rain and strong winds hit the area Wednesday, more than 1,000 PECO customers in the Newtown area were in the dark. Crews worked Wednesday and Thursday to fix local outages.
PECO said in a Thursday statement that the storm “caused extensive damage to electric equipment.”
Winds brought trees and limbs down on trees across Bucks County, including the lower end.
The utility company said more than 230,000 customers had electric service impacted over the course of the storm, with more than 87 percent of those customers impacted getting power back within a day.
Due to the storm, PECO called up 1,000 additional staff, contractors, and crews from other utility companies to assist in repairs. Crews have been working 12- to 16-hour shifts until power is restored.
Outside crews, according to PECO officials, came in from Maryland, Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, New York, and North Carolina.
The storm led to water rescues in Bucks County, road closures, and severe flooding along the Neshaminy Creek.
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
The river was swollen in Upper Makefield Township, but it did not lead to any severe flooding.
Further downstream in Bristol Borough, the river spilled its banks on Wednesday and Thursday.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
The Neshaminy Creek had returned to its banks by Thursday afternoon.
Forecasters are calling for more rain and gusty winds Friday and Saturday.
“We are prepared for this event and have enhanced our staffing plans to ensure necessary resources are available to respond for our customers,” PECO said in a statement.
Officials from the utility company advised people to avoid damaged electric equipment and downed power lines, including limbs that came into contact with the lines.
