It’s raining and pouring on Wednesday, Dec. 11, amid severe drought conditions in North Jersey. While the rain is needed across the Meadowlands and the Garden State, stormy conditions could bring potentially damaging winds.
PSE&G is prepared for storm conditions, with meteorologists forecasting gusts of winds ranging 20 to 30 mph, New Jersey’s oldest public utility said in a statement.
Winds gusts have the potential to reach up to 50 mph, which could topple trees onto wires and cause power outages. The weather system could bring 1 to 3 inches of rainfall in certain areas, with possible flash floods.
“PSE&G is closely monitoring this weather front and we are prepared for potential impacts,” said PSE&G Senior Vice President of Electric Operations, Transmission & Distribution John Latka.
“We have additional crews scheduled and we are ready for restoration once weather conditions permit. Our crews will work 24/7 to restore all of our customers safely and as quickly as possible,” Latka added.
Before the storm started, PSE&G crews performed system and logistics checks to ensure the availability of critical materials, fuel, and other supplies in order to provide reliable service in spite of extreme weather conditions.
Prepare Yourself and Your Home
Stay connected: Know how to report a power outage. These tools help everyone in the state stay connected during an outage by sharing valuable information and status updates.
- Download the PSE&G mobile app to report outages and receive information on restoration times, crew locations and more.
- Register for MyAlerts to receive text notifications at pseg.com/outagecenter.
- Report an outage and receive status updates by texting OUT to 4PSEG (47734). You can also report your outage through our app or on our website at pseg.com/myaccount.
- Follow PSE&G on Facebook, Instagram (@PSEG) and Twitter (@PSEGdelivers)for updates before, during and after the storm.
- Visit PSE&G’s Outage Map for the latest in outage info, restoration times and crew locations across New Jersey at pseg.com/outagecenter.
- To report an outage by phone, call PSE&G at 1-800-436-PSEG (7734) or text OUT to 47734.
- Review storm safety and preparation tips using the PSE&G mobile app or website or see https://nj.pseg.com/safetyandreliability/stormsafety
Storm Safety
Plan ahead before bad weather hits. Learn how to stay safe before, during, and after a storm.
- Loose decorations entangled with power lines may lead to outages, emphasizing the importance of securing festive displays to ensure both safety and uninterrupted power supply during inclement weather.
- Take extra care when driving in stormy and foggy conditions, as safety is a top priority.
- Downed wires should always be considered “live.” Stay at least 30 feet away from downed lines, and don’t go near the pole or anything touching the line. Immediately contact PSE&G, at 1-800-436-PSEG (7734), via our mobile app or our website, to report downed wires and dial 911 if an immediate hazard exists.
- Electric current passes easily through water, so stay away from downed power lines and electrical wires. Don’t drive over – and don’t stand near – downed power lines.
- Downed lines can potentially be hidden in standing water. If you encounter large pools of standing water, stop, back up and choose another path.
- To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, do not run any gasoline-powered generators in a garage or any other enclosed space. More information about carbon monoxide and other gas safety tips are available on our website.
- If you are on life-sustaining medical equipment, ensure that you alert PSE&G in advance and notify your local police and fire departments. For more information, visit www.pseg.com/life.
Drought Conditions in New Jersey
The state received 0.75–1.5 inches of rain between Nov. 24 and Dec. 1, but not enough to change the drought conditions. The Passaic River at Little Falls was at 16% of its median, and the Saddle River at Ridgewood was at 57% of its median.
October 2024 was the driest month ever recorded since 1895, with an average of 0.2 inches of rainfall, compared to the normal average of 4.19 inches. September 2024 was among the driest ever.
About PSE&G
Public Service Electric & Gas Co. is New Jersey’s oldest and largest gas and electric delivery public utility, as well as one of the nation’s largest utilities. PSE&G has won the ReliabilityOne Award for superior electric system reliability in the Mid-Atlantic region for 23 consecutive years.
For the third consecutive year, PSE&G is the recipient of the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award in the Energy Efficiency Program Delivery category. In addition, in 2023 J.D. Power named PSE&G number one in customer satisfaction with residential and business electric service in the east among large utilities. PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc., (PSEG), a predominantly regulated infrastructure company that has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America for 16 consecutive years (www.pseg.com).