Energy Industry Braces for Power Outages Along the East Coast

As Hurricane Sandy churned toward the East Coast on Monday morning, the U.S. Department of Energy was already reporting 36,426 customers without power and utility companies on the ready to restore electricity as soon as possible after the storm made landfall. Here are the details.

* According to the Department of Energy's emergency situation report from 8 a.m. Monday, New York and New Jersey had the most customers without power, at 12,590 and 8,148 respectively.

* CNN reported that by noon on Monday the number of customers without power had climbed to 300,000.

* Outages affecting thousands of customers were also reported in Connecticut, Delaware, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Virginia.

* The Department of Energy also reported that the Phillips 66 refinery in Linden, N.J., had been shut down in advance of the storm. There were reduced rates reported at refineries in Philadelphia, Delaware City and Port Reading, N.J.

* Baltimore Gas and Electric Company was planning to mobilize more than 3,000 employees, contractors, tree personnel and support staff, the Department of Energy Reported.

* Additional personnel were requested by utility companies in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.

* Extra crews from Ohio, Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois, Texas, Florida, California and Iowa were expected to arrive this week to assist the Long Island Power Authority in New York with restoration efforts.

* The Nuclear Regulatory Commission reported on Monday that it has been preparing with inspectors at all nuclear power plants in the storm's path.

* Inspectors are verifying that plant operators are following relevant procedures and taking appropriate actions to ensure plant safety before, during and after the storm, the NRC stated.

* Federal nuclear power plant procedures require a shutdown of facilities prior to any hurricane-force winds.

* All plants have flood protection above the predicted storm surge and key compnents are housed in watertight buildings that can withstand the wind and water that the storm will bring, according to the NRC.

* Additional inspectors have been provided in order to give advanced oversight to nuclear plants in Lusby, Md., Hancocks Bridge, N.J., Lacey Township, N.J., Delta, Pa., Middletown, Pa., Salem Township, Pa., Buchanan, N.Y., and Waterford, Conn.

* Hurricane Sandy is predicted to make landfall on Monday night.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/energy-industry-braces-power-outages-along-east-coast-194100120.html

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