Binghamton: NYSEG Releases Daily Storm Restoration Work Plan - 7am

Company continues to onboard additional resources to bolster restoration efforts

BINGHAMTON, NY — April 21, 2022, 7:00 a.m. — New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) , has released its work plan for Thursday and announced that it expects to make significant progress in its restoration efforts. The company anticipates restoring service to 95% of the affected customers by 11:30 PM on Friday, April 22, with the exception of any customers in inaccessible areas or with damage to customer-owned equipment who will be restored through the weekend. Currently, approximately 22,900 customers in the company’s Binghamton division are without power.

The Binghamton division includes Broome, Chenango and Tioga counties.

Customers are reminded that dry ice and bottled water distribution locations are available throughout area and are encouraged to visit the company’s website for the most up-to-date locations and hours of operation . An additional delivery of dry ice is expected this morning.

Details of Thursday’s Work Plan Include

Resource and Crewing Information: The company has more than 2,800 field resources engaged in restoration efforts across the state and continues to add additional resources, including specialized equipment that allows for better access to circuits located in off-road areas. To bolster restoration efforts, NYSEG is expanding its workforce with crews from its sister company, Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E).

Operational Expectations: Crews will continue work to restore service to all critical facilities, including nursing homes, senior living facilities and cell phone towers. As a result of efforts to expand field resources, the company stated that they expect to be able to assign at least one crew to perform restoration work on every damaged circuit in the Binghamton division by the afternoon. Crews will focus today on continuing to repair transmission lines across the region, which will restore power to a large number of the remaining impacted customers. Crews will also work to set new poles to replace those damaged by the storm. Tuesday’s storm caused severe damage to the company’s electrical system, causing more than 1,100 downed wires in the company’s Binghamton division, along with more than 90 broken poles.

As crews work to make repairs, it’s possible that some customers that have already been restored may experience scattered outages that are necessary to complete additional work. For the safety of the crews and customers, NYSEG reminds customers to maintain a safe distance from work zones and do not approach crews.

The company urges customers to remain away from storm debris, as it may contain downed wires or other damaged equipment and this may be hidden by snow. All downed wires should be assumed as energized and be reported by calling NYSEG’s emergency line at 800.572.1131 or contacting 911.

Stay Informed

NYSEG will continue to provide updates throughout the event to the general public on the company’s website and social media channels (Facebook and Twitter). The company also offers customers the following reminders to stay safe during a power outage.

• Use our new mobile app to report and check the status of outages. To download the application, customers should search “AVANGRID” in the Apple or Android app stores and select “NYSEG.” The application is free to download.
• Sign up for Outage Alerts to receive updates automatically by phone, text, or email as the company updates the status of the restoration process in their area. Customers can sign up for outage alerts by visiting here for NYSEG .

Stay Away From Downed Wires

• Stay at least 30 feet from a downed power line.
• If a downed wire comes in contact with your vehicle, stay inside and wait for help. If you must get out because of fire or other danger, jump clear of the vehicle to avoid any contact with the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Land with your feet together and hop with feet together or shuffle away; don’t run or stride.
• NYSEG customers should call 800.572.1131 to report downed power lines or other hazardous situations.

During a Power Interruption

• Contact neighbors to see if their power is off. A loss of power may be the result of a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker.
• To report a power interruption, contact NYSEG at 800.572.1131.
• Keep refrigerators and freezers closed as much as possible. Most food will last 24 hours if you minimize the opening of refrigerator and freezer doors.

Flooding Preparation and Safety Tips

• If flooding of a home or business has already occurred or is about to occur, customers should contact us to have electricity and natural gas service turned off. Call NYSEG at 800.572.1131 to report electricity emergencies; for natural gas emergencies, call 800.572.1121. Customers should never attempt to turn off electric and natural gas service.
• Stay out of flooded basements. Energized wiring or outlets below the water line may pose a hazard; natural gas service in a flooded basement may also pose a danger.
• To have service restored once flood waters have receded, customers should contact NYSEG to discuss specific circumstances. A safety inspection by a certified inspector may be necessary before service can be restored. Additionally, the basement must be free of water and the equipment must be clean and free of debris. Customers and contractors should never attempt to turn on electric or gas service.

Power Restoration Priorities

The companies’ first priorities are to respond to reports of downed power lines to keep the public safe. NYSEG customers are asked to call 800.572.1131 to report downed wires. Once this vital public safety work is complete, the companies will:

• Assess the damage to the electricity delivery system.
• Develop a detailed restoration plan.
• Make repairs as quickly as possible.

For additional information, including storm preparation tips, storm safety information, generator safety information, restoration priorities and emergency resources, visit Outage Central at NYSEG.com and the company's social media pages:

• Facebook: @NYSEandG
• Twitter: @NYSEandG

NYSEG is a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc. 

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