PSE&G Ready for Frigid Weekend Weather

NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), New Jersey's largest utility, is monitoring its gas system and has additional personnel on staff and standby to ensure it can meet the heating demands of customers. The utility is prepared to quickly respond to emergency "no heat" calls and electric outages during the frigid weather predicted for this weekend.

"Throughout the weekend we will operate and manage our gas distribution system to ensure our customers have the gas they need to keep their homes warm and businesses running," said Joe Forline, vice president of gas operations for PSE&G. "Over the past several years we have replaced critical feeds in our gas distribution system. This and other infrastructure investments have strengthened our system's performance and reliability."

Since Tuesday, the utility has received about 2,000 "no heat" calls from customers. "We expect that number to spike this weekend when people are home and furnaces are working extra hard," said Forline. "Customers should be aware that although their heating systems may be working properly, the frigid temperatures make it difficult for furnaces to maintain the same thermostat setting."

If your heating system is not working properly or if you need to report a "no heat" incident, schedule an appointment by calling 800-436-PSEG (7734) or online through My Account.

Your safety is important to us, so please:

• If you smell gas, act fast. Open windows and doors, go outside or to a neighbor's house, and call PSE&G at 1-800-880-PSEG (7734), or call 911.
• Never use a gas range to heat a room or apartment. The appliance will deplete oxygen from the air, causing asphyxiation or deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Remember to check your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors for proper operation and replace their batteries at least once every year. While CO poisoning is a year-round threat, it is much more common in cold weather when more fuel heating appliances are in use.

While annual bills for PSE&G's typical gas heating customer are 55 percent lower than they were in 2009 due to supply rate reductions and gas bill credits, PSE&G is always looking to help you better manage your usage and keep your costs low. 

Use these tips to stay warm, and save money on your bills: 

• Lower your thermostat by just one degree, which may reduce your heating bill by up to 3 percent.
• Close fireplace dampers when not in use.
• Close and latch your windows.
• Move furniture and drapes away from heating registers, radiators, and baseboard element covers.
• Remove or cover window air conditioners to reduce drafts.
• Open your curtains and blinds that face the sun on sunny days to warm your home, and close them at night to keep the warm air inside.
• Use weather stripping or caulk to seal up cracks and prevent drafts in windows and doorframes.
• Beneath doors, install draft guards available at hardware stores.
• Keep your garage door closed if the garage is attached to the house.
• Check for sufficient water levels in the sight glass for steam heating systems to ensure maximum efficiency. Clean or replace the furnace filter on hot air heating systems.

More energy saving tips and tools are available at www.pseg.com/saveenergy.

Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) is New Jersey's oldest and largest regulated gas and electric delivery utility, serving nearly three-quarters of the state's population.  PSE&G is the winner of the ReliabilityOne Award for superior electric system reliability.  PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a diversified energy company.

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SOURCE Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G)

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