PPL Unveils New Regional Command Center Before Hurricane
By: Eric Deabill
Updated: October 26, 2012
Scranton, Lackawanna County - With Hurricane Sandy expected to affect northeastern Pennsylvania in the coming days, PPL Electric Utilities is getting ready.
The utility company says it is expecting power outages and is urging people to plan ahead.
After being criticized for its storm response last year, officials unveiled a new regional command center which is expected to be up and running soon.
"We're expecting multiple day outages next week and that is what we're preparing for at this point," Greg Dudkin, PPL Electric Utilities President said.
Crews from as far away as Kentucky and Arkansas are already being called into northeastern Pennsylvania, independent contractors are being put on notice and vacation time for employees is being cancelled.
Company officials say the new storm center will allow them to better respond to outages as soon as they happen because it combines three rooms that used to be seperate.
"You can see where your resources are needed much easier rather than trying to call different rooms and saying, what can you give up or what do you need, how are you seeing things?" John Conaboy said.
Lackawanna County leaders like the fact their 911 center now has the ability to link right into PPL's new command center.
"We have a large senior population. We have a lot of young children in our region and we need to make sure that those individuals have power and have it quickly," Commissioner Corey O'Brien said.
After last year's storms, PPL as criticized because many customers couldn't get through to report their outages. Officials say they've increased the number of phone lines for customer service.
"We believe very strongly that we are in better shape in that regard and we expect they'll have a better interaction with us this year," Dudkin said.
The utility company says it is expecting power outages and is urging people to plan ahead.
After being criticized for its storm response last year, officials unveiled a new regional command center which is expected to be up and running soon.
"We're expecting multiple day outages next week and that is what we're preparing for at this point," Greg Dudkin, PPL Electric Utilities President said.
Crews from as far away as Kentucky and Arkansas are already being called into northeastern Pennsylvania, independent contractors are being put on notice and vacation time for employees is being cancelled.
Company officials say the new storm center will allow them to better respond to outages as soon as they happen because it combines three rooms that used to be seperate.
"You can see where your resources are needed much easier rather than trying to call different rooms and saying, what can you give up or what do you need, how are you seeing things?" John Conaboy said.
Lackawanna County leaders like the fact their 911 center now has the ability to link right into PPL's new command center.
"We have a large senior population. We have a lot of young children in our region and we need to make sure that those individuals have power and have it quickly," Commissioner Corey O'Brien said.
After last year's storms, PPL as criticized because many customers couldn't get through to report their outages. Officials say they've increased the number of phone lines for customer service.
"We believe very strongly that we are in better shape in that regard and we expect they'll have a better interaction with us this year," Dudkin said.
