CAYCE (Sept. 1, 2016) – SCE&G is encouraging customers to take steps to prepare for Tropical Storm Hermine as the company readies crews to respond to possible outages and other issues related to potentially severe weather.

SCE&G is carefully monitoring the projected path of the storm. In addition to more than 1,200 SCE&G storm team employees – linemen, dispatchers, damage assessors, tree trimmers, etc. – the company has arranged for roughly 100 off-system contract crew members to be available, if necessary, to support storm restoration efforts.

“While we don’t know what the impact of Hermine may be, we’re prepared to respond to storm-related service interruptions,” said Bill Turner, SCE&G’s vice president of electric operations. “We also want to encourage our customers to be prepared in advance of the storm and stay safe.”

SCE&G offers the following tips:
• Report outages:
• By text: Register for SCE&G’s text option online at www.sceg.com. Simply login to your account and look for the “Activate Text Options” under the “Account Options” feature and then follow the instructions. Once you are registered, if you are experiencing an outage, simply text the word “OUT” to 467234 (gosceg).
• By phone: 1-888-333-4465.
• By mobile device: Report and check the status of your power outage online from your internet-ready mobile device or phone by visiting www.sceg.com/mobile and clicking on “Outages & Emergencies.”
• Stay away from downed power lines – Storms can cause tree limbs and entire trees to break and fall, sometimes taking power lines and even meter boxes down with them. Always assume any downed power line you see is live and stay away. To report a downed line, call 1-888-333-4465.
• Stay informed – Keeping customers safe and up-to-date with timely information is a top priority. Follow SCE&G on Twitter at @scegnews or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/scegnews for the latest storm-related information and safety tips.
• Learn more at SCE&G’s storm center: www.sceg.com/storm. The storm center includes additional important safety tips, as well as information about SCE&G’s process for restoring service to customers.

About SCE&G
South Carolina Electric & Gas Company is a regulated public utility engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity to approximately 706,000 customers in 24 counties in the central, southern and southwestern portions of South Carolina. The company also provides natural gas service to approximately 352,000 customers in 38 counties in the state.