Light Plant Puts Extra Crews On, Prepared for Worst From Sandy

The city's light plant says "it's all hands on deck" for the next 24 hours as Hurricane Sandy barrels through the region.

"We have prepared for the worst," said Randi Holland, the public relations manager at Peabody Municipal Light Plant, Monday afternoon.

Holland said additional line crews and tree trimmers from out-of-state have been hired to deal with storm response as well as addressing any potential problems beforehand.

Holland said seven line crews and four to five tree crews were out in the field Monday morning and afternoon, checking on power lines and trees in proximity to lines.

"We'll do everything we can to keep the power on," she said.

Anyone who experiences a power outage or electrical problem should call PMLP at 978-531-5975. The number goes directly to the plant's reception desk, but if a plethora of calls start pouring in simultaneously, Holland said, calls will shared between customer service and dispatch as well.

As a word of caution, if you have a downed power line at your home or business, be safe and don't go near it, Holland said -- call PMLP instead.

As of noon on Monday, no power outages or other problems had been reported, Holland said. There were currently 70 people on the job in the building and crew shifts were being staggered in order to provide 24/7 response to the hurricane when it does hit the Peabody area.

"We intend to have our people on all night," she said.

PMLP also serves South Lynnfield in addition to Peabody.