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Winter Storm Knocks Out Power Tens Of Thousands Across New Jersey

TRENTON, N.J. (CBS/AP) — Utility companies in New Jersey are reporting that around 25,000 customers are without power, with the majority of those affected along the coast.

Atlantic City Electric reports around 20,000 customers without power. The outages stretch from Barnegat Beach south to Cape May and as far west as Mantua.

READ: Power Outage Resource Guide

Sustained winds of 30 mph to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph along the coast have hampered restoration efforts, officials said. Significant flooding along the coast is also preventing access to areas requiring repair and further delaying restoration.

"We're keeping a close watch on the weather and wind speeds," said Vince Maione, Atlantic City Electric region president. "We'll continue conducting a comprehensive assessment which we'll use to strategically deploy crews. Crews will work around the clock as safely and quickly as possible until every customer is restored."

READ: Wind Is Big Concern With Storm

Jersey Central Power & Light says around 5,000 customers were without power, with outages along the coast from north of Sea Bright south to near Barnegat Light. The outages come as a strong winter storm packing high wind and snow moves through New Jersey.

PSE&G is doing much better. The utility company is reporting only scattered outages.

Governor Chris Christie declared a state of emergency Friday night.

Forecasters say the storm threatens to dump up to two feet of snow on parts of the state and flood the coast.

Across the Delaware River, customers in Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs aren't dealing with too many problems. PECO is reporting only scattered outages, as well.

Here are the latest numbers:

AC Electric 

  • Atlantic County: 1,760
  • Burlington County: 160
  • Camden County: 20
  • Cape May County: 15,640
  • Cumberland County: 240
  • Gloucester County: <10
  • Ocean County: 1,960
  • Salem County: <10

 

Jersey Central Power & Light

  • Monmouth County: 100
  • Ocean County: 5,000

 

PECO

Scattered

PSE&G

Scattered

Delmarva

Scattered

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Report an outage:

Jersey Central Power & Light: 1-888-544-4877

Atlantic City Electric: 1-800-833-7476

PECO: 1-800-841-4141  

PSE&G: 1-800-436-PSEG 

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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