Nov. 1: Central Bucks Power Outage Update
The PECO trucks are coming, the PECO trucks are coming!
A Doylestown Borough Public Works crew removes a tree on Belmont Avenue on Thursday.
Det Ansinn
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Photos
House by house, block by block, the lights started blinking back on and homes started warming up.
The power started to come back on in neighborhoods in and around Doylestown on Thursday for the first time since Hurricane Sandy belted the area on Monday.
For those who have been in the dark, without electronic connection to the world, without light, or heat or warm showers and hot food, it was a welcome relief.
But not everyone is ready to celebrate yet.
As of 12:02 a.m. on Friday, thousands of PECO customers in Central Bucks County still were facing their fourth day without electricity.
Doylestown Borough and Doylestown, New Britain and Plumstead townships each had 1,501 to 3,500 customers out (PECO's outage map publicly lists only ranges, not specific numbers).
New Britain and Chalfont boroughs and Warrington and Warwick townships each had 501 to 1,500 out, while Buckingham Township still had more than 3,500 PECO customers without power.
Still, the arrival of utility trucks in Central Bucks for what seemed like the first time since the storm gave people hope that things at least were moving in the right direction.
Throughout the day, friends and neighbors shared updates on Facebook and Twitter of who had power and who didn't - and who saw the trucks coming.
"We drove from Warrington to Dublin (Wednesday) night, and saw PECO trucks EVERYWHERE! Well Done!" Doylestown Patch user Jane West posted on our Facebook page Thursday morning.
"Ridings of Buckingham is back on the grid," resident Mike Maney posted on Facebook Thursday night.
Residents reported that Patriots Ridge got power back Thursday morning, as did at least part of Harvey Avenue, in Doylestown Borough.
Lantern Hill, in the borough on Broad Street, also got power back on Thursday morning, borough council president Det Ansinn said.
"We're told that there's going to be a strong presence today," Ansinn told Doylestown Patch early Thursday. "The utility poles being dropped off is a sure sign that something is happening."
Borough Council member Marlene Pray said a truck delivered a new utility pole to replace one damaged near South West Street and Magill Lane. The truck then drove off, presumably to deliver more replacement poles to other areas.
Thursday afternoon then saw a flurry of progress.
The Colonial Green neighborhood reportedly got power back, as did parts of Shewell Avenue, Ansinn said.
A repair crew from Florida started on the tree limb down on lines across East State Street near Our Lady of Mt. Carmel church.
And just after 2 p.m., a PECO crew was working on the tree down across Old Dublin Pike, on the Doylestown Township and Borough border.
Thursday had dawned with 4,506 PECO customers in the dark in Doylestown Borough, Ansinn said. By the afternoon, that number was down to 4,420; by the evening, another 1,000 customers had been restored, he said.
The work was a welcome sight to a populace that was starting to wonder if they were being forgotten. The number of households out of power in Central Bucks had not improved much, if at all, since the storm.
"We've had no activity, streets still closed, lines still down, trees still down," Ansinn said early Thursday. "We appreciate that they're doing work outside the borough that will help the borough, but not seeing any activity, having it cold, is definitely wearing people down."
About 119,000 PECO customers in Bucks County had been without power as of 4 a.m. Thursday, down from 165,000 on Wednesday morning, according to an update the utility company gave to municipal leaders.
PECO has said it hopes to have power restored to 80 to 90 percent of its customers by today. Those who live in more rural or isolated areas may take longer, the utility said.
As for those in Upper Bucks, 15,888 PPL customers still were without power as of early Friday, down from 22,435 on Wednesday morning. Most of those were in Richland, Milford, Springfield and Hilltown townships.
In northeast Bucks, 6,016 customers of FirstEnergy (Met Ed) still were without power early Friday - one more than the 6,015 listed on Wednesday morning.
Judy Habel
12:16 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Not a moment too soon! Yay!
Rebecca Kovacs
12:23 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Fix it in maplewood Please!
cindey barrett
12:25 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Progress,perhaps..however for those of us still without power,heat etc it is mind-numbing frustration..., and I have not seen 1 Peco truck in Buckingham near 413 and 263..what's disheartening is the automated peco drone keeps pushing the"restore"time back..its not fun being the neglected orphan in Bucks County.
Alison
2:05 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
We are in the same area. I did spot a PECO truck this morning near the tracks and hardware store on Upper Mountain Road. Since then, nothing.
Diane Check
1:32 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Charing Cross (Old Dubln Pike) was just restored at noon today.
Julie Anderson Rossi
2:03 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Any update on restoring Evergreen Dr in New Britain boro? I hear Iron Hill Rd just 1 block was up as of 7:30 Wed night? Any idea???
SusanB
2:07 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Any news from Old Orchard?
Sarah Larson
2:26 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Shewell Avenue, in the borough, and Colonial Greene reportedly are now back up, too.
Crews are working on Belmont, and State and Maple in the borough and Old Dublin Pike on the Doylestown borough/township border.
Sarah Larson
3:20 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
My friend on North Street in the borough said power went back on at 2:40 p.m. today
Diane Bull
4:17 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Belmont Square still out.
Ben Caccavale
4:38 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
As of 4:30, still no power on Crestland Terrace (between Old Dublin Pike and Broad St).
Jeffrey Burgdoerfer
5:00 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
No sign of life from the waterwheel restaurant north. Seems like anyone north of stump or 313 is the step child of the burrough
Jackie
5:37 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
How about the church school road area? We abandoned ship last nite and would like to return!
Sarah Larson
6:31 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
New Britain Mayor David Holewinski reports that the borough is back on, and the big tree over Route 202 has been removed and 202 is open at Tamenend.
melissa wolf
7:02 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Is all of Belmont Square back now?
Julie Anderson Rossi
7:10 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
New Britain Boro NOT all back up! Evergreen Dr & on Cedar still down with new reports from PECO stating 11 pm Nov 3rd!
Christopher Donald
7:46 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Patriots Ridge back up sometime before 4pm today. Thank you Peco.
Tracy Cunningham
9:15 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Old Easton between Saw Mill and Ferry Road still out...tough on a lot of livestock depending on the well water pump working. Anyone know when this part of town will restored?
Steve Crowers
6:45 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
Errata: Old Colonial Greene was -not- restored on Thursday (at least not the half that lost power). PECO's website is estimating 11:00pm on Fri, Nov 2 for service restoration.
Teena Murphy
7:02 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
I'm located on W. Ashland directly across from Talbots. All my neighbors have been up and running for days ..... except for the engineers and our single house. We have tons of pets inside trying to stay warm and kids attempting to stay at others houses because of the extremely limited power the tiny generator lets off. Its getting very hard to remain optimistic at this point.
Julia B
7:03 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
Church School, Fell and Burnt House are back as of about 7pm last night. Thank you PECO!
Jerry Butkus
7:51 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
Why all the thank you to Peco. We have one of the highest rates in the country. Iv been riding around central bucks for last few days and have seen zero peco crews
I realize high number trees fell and was very difficult but who at peco is accountable for the third largest school district in the state to miss school for one full week while they were elsewhere
katsugar
10:08 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
Lower Buckingham still out.
Jeffrey Burgdoerfer
10:14 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
Power just came on at ferguson drive. New dev off of old Easton road near summer hill
Steve
10:32 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
Does anyone have any news regarding Burnt House Hill Road, near Cold Spring in Buckingham?
Harold J
11:03 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
Sandy Ridge Rd came back on at 4 AM
Tracy Cunningham
1:04 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
You are lucky Jeffrey! We are the ones who live in the farm behind your house. Still no power heat or water. Wonder if you can hear all those cows complaining? ;-)
Andrew Ippolito
8:41 am on Saturday, November 3, 2012
Far View Rd. still out. Time to repair has been a moving target. PECO needs to set realistic outage estimates so as not to get people's hopes up. This isn't a wait at a restaurant. I have yet to see a single repair vehicle in the area, despite seeing the same downed trees. This resident is EXTREMELY frustrated at the poor service. Power lines should be underground in this day and age. I can't help but wonder if they aren't because of cost. This is why for-profit public services make no sense. My mail has been here every day. People who think the government can't run public services better than the private sector need to reexamine their ideas.
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8:43 am on Saturday, November 3, 2012
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Tracy Cunningham
9:16 am on Saturday, November 3, 2012
Power still out. Whole neighborhood was lit up last night. Somehow PECO missed us. Now I hear Monday night. Great. Supposed to go to 28 degrees tonight. And we pay for this.
Amy Gulden Parke
3:29 pm on Saturday, November 3, 2012
Attention Mayor Holewinski of New Britain Boro: It is Saturday afternoon and there are still several homes in New Britain Boro without power, including our own on East Butler/Route 202 near where the tree by Tamamend was removed. It DID NOT solve everyone's outage problem. Perhaps there needs to be a way for you to communicate with your constituents during situations like this, such as a text alert system or Boro Facebook page, where updates could be posted by the Boro and residents. Regardless, so you are aware, there are still some of us in the dark and cold in New Britain Boro.
michelle
10:21 pm on Saturday, November 3, 2012
I am one of SEVEN homes left on Callowhill Road without power, very depressing to see homes 3 houses over with power and we are refueling generators every 4 hours just to keep sump and fridge on. However, in driving around and seeing other homes that have had damage or roads that are still closed, I know that PECO is doing the best they can. PA should be very grateful that we are not having to go thru what the shore and Manhatten have to go thru...so, although I am worried about my 100 gallon fish tank, and having to burn a fire to not freeze, I am very apprectiative of PECO's efforts.
Tracy Cunningham
6:47 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012
We are still freezing in the dark. Amy & Michelle.. found this link.. we are driving over to solebury HS today. Will report back
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49658153
Julie Anderson Rossi
7:09 am on Sunday, November 4, 2012
PECO has changed our restoration time here in New Britain Boro for the 5th time....WHICH IS ABSURD! We started with a Wed restore, got a call from the it was back on Sat am (it wasn't!) Now they are saying Sunday by 11 PM! I have no faith it will happen! Need running water again!