As Winter Storm Is Imminent, Utility Companies Prepare To Battle Power Outages

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GREENSBURG (KDKA) - This weekend's storm could bring not just snow, but also ice, and power companies are doing whatever they can to keep the lights on.

A heavy snowfall and freezing rain mean problems for utility companies. Thousands of customers may be in the direct path of a winter storm that could pack enough of a punch to knock out power.

The weight of ice and snow can bring down power lines and so can fallen tree branches, leaving customers in the dark. But West Penn Power is trying to stay ahead of the problems.

Todd Meyers, of West Penn Power, talked to KDKA's Brenda Waters on Thursday.

"What we are doing, Brenda, is we are monitoring the weather forecast," Meyers said. "We have put out the call to get some additional crews here from other areas. We've alerted our contractors, they're people that work with us, putting up lines and doing maintenance. We've alerted them to get them ready to get here. We're trying to get people moving as soon as we can."

The problem is, according to Meyers, the companies they normally call for help are also in the path of this storm.

"The problem is this weather system is so large that it's hard to draw in outside resources from other companies because they're also in the bullseye," Meyers said.

Meyers is asking customers to follow some guidelines to keep themselves, and power crews, safe.

"You don't want to ever hook up a generator incorrectly. You don't want carbon monoxide building up and getting into your home, and you don't want to hurt our guys out on the lines. Sometimes if you don't have it hooked up right, we think the line is dead and we're out there working on it and it can actually put power out and endanger us," Meyers said.

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