Following an incident at PEPCO’s 22nd Street substation, many customers in Dupont Circle and D.C.’s West End are once again without power. While the outages initially began in the evening on Tuesday, July 15, additional area-wide impacts continue to occur, leaving some without power for several hours.
These incidents have affected residents, office buildings, and other local establishments. Here’s what we know thus far:
💡 Why Are The PEPCO Power Outages Occurring?
On July 15, PEPCO’s electric system in the Dupont Circle and West End areas faced significant challenges due to multiple equipment failures and a fire at the substation. Since then, crew members have been working to carry out essential repairs. In order to prevent larger outages during peak demand, PEPCO has had to implement intermittent service interruptions for some customers.
💡 What To Expect Moving Forward
Although PEPCO’s crews have made some headway, the complex nature of the damage means that repairs will be ongoing in the weeks to come. The utilities company has noted that, while they will strive to notify customers in advance of an outage, “proactive updates are not always possible before a service interruption is put in place.”
💡 How To Stay Safe During a Power Outage
- Keep your freezer and refrigerator doors closed to help extend the freshness of your food
- Unplug appliances and electronics to prevent potential damage from electrical surges
- Turn off gas appliances and secure items like propane tanks to minimize risks
- Stay informed via a battery-powered radio or your cellphone for the latest updates on the outage
💡 How You Can Help
- Turn off any lights and devices that you don’t currently need
- Set your thermostat to a comfortable yet efficient temperature
- Try using your oven and dryer during the cooler parts of the day
- Close blinds and curtains to help keep the indoor temperature down
For those living in Northwest D.C., intermittent outages may occur throughout the rest of the month. While, of course, this is less than welcome news, we can at least be thankful for long daylight hours during D.C.’s summer months.