RICHMOND, Va., March 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- As high winds, gusting to nearly 70 mph, continue to impact Dominion Energy's service area in Virginia, nearly 3,000 restoration workers are deployed across the state assessing damage and repairing equipment and downed power lines as conditions permit. In some areas, restoration work may be hampered by the winds, as they can put workers in bucket trucks in danger.

An additional 500 out-of-state restoration workers are expected to be on-site tomorrow bringing the total workforce to 3,500 personnel. They will work around the clock as quickly and safely as possible until power is restored to all customers.

Of the 621,000 customers that lost service, about 233,000 have been restored. As of 4:30 p.m. more than 388,000 currently remain without power. Restoration times are not yet available because outages are still occurring from the high winds and crews must first respond to critical facilities, such as fire and police stations and hospitals.

Customers are advised that very high winds and rain can cause trees and branches to fall, which may bring down power lines. Beware of any lines that may have fallen or come into contact with trees, debris, or water. Stay at least 30' feet away and make sure your family, pets, and neighbors also avoid the downed wire. Call Dominion Energy right away at 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357) to speak with an agent to report the downed wire.

If your power goes out, please report it at DominionEnergy.com or call us at 1-866-DOM-HELP. The fastest way to report or track an outage is online at DominonEnergy.com using your phone or other mobile device.

Customers relying on portable generators until service is restored should follow the manufacturer's guidelines for installation and only operate them outdoors with adequate ventilation.

About Dominion Energy

Dominion Energy is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 26,000 megawatts of electric generation, 14,800 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline, and 6,600 miles of electric transmission lines. Dominion Energy operates one of the nation's largest natural gas storage systems with approximately 1 trillion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves nearly 6 million utility and retail energy customers. For more information about Dominion Energy, visit the company's website at www.dominionenergy.com.

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SOURCE Dominion Energy