NOVEC Promises Power for Independence Day

 CONTINUING STORM COVERAGE 

UPDATE 4 p.m.

About 90 percent of Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative have their power back on.

Following Friday night’s powerful storm with winds that knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses – about 2 million people – the utility says most will have power back on by Independence Day.

The announced could be good news for many customers in NOVEC’s service districts in Prince William and Stafford counties who have family in town for the Wednesday holiday.

BY THE NUMBERS – 4 p.m. Monday

Prince William

Dominion customers still without power: 4,962

NOVEC customer still without power: 280

Stafford

Dominion customers still without power: 7,673

NOVEC customer still without power: 2

STAFFORD, Va. — It could be Saturday before all affected Dominion Virginia Power customers get their power back on.

The utility said it was bringing in help from help from states like Wisconsin, Texas, and Florida, and from as far away as Canada to help in the restoration efforts. A Dominion spokesman said 80 to 85 percent of customers should be restored by Tuesday night, with 90 to 95 percent of customers getting their juice back by Thursday.

“Unlike a hurricane, this storm could not be forecasted well ahead of time by the National Weather Service,” said Dominion Vice president-Electric Distribution Operations Rodney Blevins. “That is complicating restoration efforts because crews and supplies could not be positioned in advance.”

BY THE NUMBERS

Prince William

Dominion customers still without power: 5,297

NOVEC customer still without power: 438

Stafford

Dominion customers still without power: 7,177

NOVEC customer still without power: 58

In Stafford, county officials Sunday night last night closed an emergency shelter at Rodney Thompson Middle School.