PowerStream Encourages Customers to Be Prepared for 'Sandy'

VAUGHAN, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 29, 2012) - Since PowerStream employees continually train and exercise for emergencies, the utility is ready to respond to 'Sandy', the tropical depression approaching southern Ontario. The company's System Control Centre is continuing to monitor weather forecasts and storm models. Mitigation strategies are being made to prepare line crews and additional field and communications staff to respond as the situation evolves.

PowerStream encourages its customers and others in southern Ontario to be prepared too - before the power goes out. Emergency Management Ontario and local emergency responders recommend that residents prepare and plan to be self-sufficient for 72 hours in an emergency situation.

Power Outage Preparation - Know what to do before the power goes out, during a power outage and after power is restored -, available on the PowerStream website, is an extensive list of do's, don'ts and instructions including "Do build a 72-hour emergency kit" before the power goes out, "Do follow the Ontario Fire Marshal's fire safety rules if using candles or lanterns", "Do stay away from downed powerlines" and "Don't ever use a charcoal or gas barbecue, camping heating equipment or portable generator indoors. They produce deadly carbon monoxide gas," during a power outage.

More emergency preparedness information and updates are available at Emergency Management Ontario.

QUOTES

•	"When responding to any power outage or electrical emergency, our first priority is safety; for the public and our employees. Once areas are made safe, an orderly process determines our restoration priorities," explained Brian Bentz, PowerStream President and CEO. "Our first efforts are directed to restore power to community critical locations such as hospitals, police, fire, and ambulance facilities, and other locations such as senior's homes, water pumping stations, sewage plants and communication centres. Our next priorities are dense neighbourhoods where PowerStream crews can restore power to the most customers in the least amount of time. Crews are then directed to smaller and individual outages."
•	"Most emergency situations occur without notice. With 'Sandy' we've been given some time to prepare, so I encourage you to think about essential items you might need during the coming week, in addition to flashlights and batteries," said Linas Medelis, Acting Vice President of Customer Service. "Prescription drugs, diapers, a full tank of gas. Our Power Outage Preparation guide contains a list to get you started, but be sure to consider what else you might need."

BACKGROUND

•	PowerStream customers can call 1-877-777-3810 to report power outages, downed powerlines and electrical emergencies. Callers can also hear restoration information about reported outages.
•	Follow @PowerStreamNews or #pwrout on Twitter for power outage and restoration information and updates; go to www.powerstream.ca/poweroutages on your desktop or mobile device.
•	Power Outage Preparation - Know what to do before the power goes out, during a power outage and after power is restored - and other online power outage information and resources are available on the PowerStream website http://www.powerstream.ca/.

ABOUT POWERSTREAM

PowerStream is the second largest municipally-owned electricity distribution company in Ontario, providing service to approximately 355,000 customers residing or owning a business in communities located immediately north of Toronto and in Central Ontario. It is jointly owned by the Cities of Barrie, Markham and Vaughan.

LET'S CONNECT!

eStream - Blog.PowerStream.ca

Twitter - @PowerStreamNews

YouTube - PowerStreamTV

LinkedIn - PowerStream