Summer Preparedness Update from Atlantic City Electric

A Message from Atlantic City Electric:

With summer on the way, Atlantic City Electric wants you to know that we are ready.  We have taken steps to prepare the local energy grid to meet increased customer demand and help ensure continued affordable and reliable energy service for our customers.  Our crews have performed maintenance and inspections to prepare the grid for severe weather and help keep homes cool and bright and businesses operational all summer long.  

As part of our preparedness for the summer, we conduct emergency response drills and complete testing of computer and emergency systems as part of our summer preparedness program.  Employees from across the company review emergency processes and procedures to help ensure a safe and efficient response to storms or emergencies.  We share best practices with our sister companies, BGE, ComEd, Delmarva Power, PECO and Pepco, and participate in emergency response training exercises to ensure we can provide seamless support and resources during a storm or emergency restoration effort.  This practice of collaborating and sharing resources demonstrates the benefits of being part of the Exelon family of companies.  

Every day, we are committed to providing safe, reliable and clean energy service, while helping to maintain affordability for our customers and communities.  We are investing every day in our systems to meet the growing energy needs of our customers and to provide a world-class customer experience. Atlantic City Electric is reinforcing the local energy grid through the addition of new technology and smart devices to increase resiliency against more frequent and impactful weather events.  In 2024, when outages did occur, our crews averaged a safe restoration of service within 50 minutes systemwide, and customers have experienced a 41 percent decrease in outages over the past 10 years.  Over the past year, Atlantic City Electric performed work on several projects to further improve service reliability.  These projects include:

• Beach Haven Battery Storage Project - Through the Beach Haven Battery Storage Project, we installed a battery storage system in Beach Haven to improve the quality of energy service for thousands of customers and seasonal visitors in Beach Haven and Long Beach Island during times when customer demand for energy is highest.
• Greater Gloucester and Camden Counties Reliability Project - The Greater Gloucester and Camden Counties Reliability Project included upgrading 10 miles of transmission line between Monroe Township and Pine Hill to improve reliability for 13,600 customers in Gloucester and Camden counties.
• Salem County Reliability Project - The Salem County Reliability Project included upgrading approximately 3.5 miles of critical transmission line, which primarily runs along Route 130 between Penns Grove and Pennsville, to enhance the quality of energy service for thousands of local customers.
• Dennis Township to Middle Township Reliability Project - The Dennis Township to Middle Township Reliability Project includes upgrading approximately 9 miles of transmission line between our Corson substation in Dennis Township and Court substation in Middle Township to benefit more than 15,000 customers in Cape May County. (Starting Fall 2025)

The company’s Smart Energy Network project includes the installation of more than 565,000 smart meters and associated equipment to support the continued effort to bring customers a world-class experience. Continued infrastructure investments will help support strong reliability for customers and help meet the growing energy demands of communities across South Jersey. 

As you can see, we take the responsibility of providing our customers with safe, reliable and affordable energy service very seriously. This includes being prepared for whatever Mother Nature might bring us at any time of the year.  We encourage others, including our customers, to be prepared as well.  Please help us bring this important information into your community by sharing these steps that can be taken to prepare for summer storms: 

•    Assemble an emergency storm kit.

•    Prepare a plan for what to do during a power outage or summer storm.

•    Confirm Atlantic City Electric has your current phone number in the “My Alerts and Notifications” section of the website: atlanticcityelectric.com/MyAccount.

•    Visit atlanticcityelectric.com/MobileApp to download the mobile app, which has many resources to keep you informed during a storm.

•    More tips, resources and safety information are available at atlanticcityelectric.com/Storm.

We monitor local weather reports regularly and if severe storms are forecasted to hit, we follow the advice of local emergency management officials.  We follow a strategic response plan to restore service, addressing live wires or potentially life-threatening situations first, followed by high-voltage transmission lines and equipment, which restore service to the largest number of affected customers.  We also prioritize public health and safety facilities, like hospitals, police and fire stations and water treatment plants and work to restore service in your community safely and as quickly as possible.  To learn more about our restoration process, visit atlanticcityelectric.com/Restoration.  

Customers are asked to immediately report a downed wire or service issue by calling 1-800-833-7476, visiting atlanticcityelectric.com or through our mobile app. Atlantic City Electric customers can also text “Out” to “20661”. Customers must first text “ADD OUTAGE” to “20661” to sign up for this service.

We also recognize our responsibility to serve customers by working to keep bills as low as possible and to continue to help our customers through these difficult times.  We understand many of our customers are facing economic challenges and are also dealing with the impact of inflation and rising prices for the products and services they are using each day.  We are committed to keeping every customer connected with extended payment arrangements and working to help them secure important energy assistance.  We care about our customers and have a wide range of payment options we offer based on their individual account and household income.  Many of these arrangements can be made quickly and easily by calling 800-642-3780 or by visiting our website at atlanticcictyelectric.com/EnergyAssistance. 

We also continue to help our customers realize the benefits of energy efficiency, educating customers on the important tips and programs available to help them reduce their energy usage and help them save money.  Many of these no-cost or low-cost tips and programs can help save customers 10 to 20 percent on their monthly bill.  Customers can learn more by visiting atlanticcityelectric.com/Save.  

We appreciate your partnership and support in ensuring we are all prepared for the impacts of summer storms or other emergencies.  By taking a few simple steps, together we can ensure our customers, and your constituents can be ready and stay safe this summer.