NYSEG and RG&E Preparing for Strong Winds on Sunday - 5 p.m.

Companies pre-staging crews and equipment ahead of forecasted wind

BINGHAMTON, NY — November 14, 2020, 5 p.m. — NYSEG and RG&E are preparing for the potential of strong winds and scattered showers which are expected to impact the service areas statewide on Sunday morning.
 
Current forecasts call for strong winds to begin around 6:00 a.m. on Sunday in the Western New York service areas and the RG&E service area and continue into the overnight period. Winds are expected to reach the Eastern New York service area by 9:00 a.m. on Sunday and extended into the evening hours.

The Western New York and Rochester service areas are expected to experience average wind gusts of 40-45 mph, with max gusts possibly reaching 60-65 mph. There is a chance of .25-.75 inches of rain and a potential for thunderstorms in the area. The strongest winds are expected to occur Sunday afternoon.

In the Eastern New York service areas, forecasts predict average wind gusts of 25-40 mph and peak wind gusts at 50 mph along with scattered showers and .25-.75 inches of rainfall. There is a potential for thunderstorms during the late afternoon and evening. The strongest winds are expected to occur Sunday afternoon and evening. 

The companies’ storm readiness teams have been monitoring weather forecasts, planning, readying crews and equipment, mobilizing employees for storm duty and have additional contract tree and line crews ready to help restore service should outages occur. The companies urge customers to monitor local forecasts and prepare for the possibility of service interruptions.

Company Preparations 

Readying Crews 
NYSEG and RG&E have pre-staged crews throughout its service area to facilitate an effective and efficient response if outages occur. Statewide crew numbers ready to respond are as follows:

  • 891 line crews  
  • 209 tree crews
  • 178 damage assessors and wire guards 
  • Additional contract crews are on call to be dispatched to the divisions most heavily impacted by the storm 

Equipment Summary
The 1,100 line and tree crews are prepared to respond to any strong wind and rain related issues across the state with bucket trucks, auger trucks, wood chippers, dump trucks and backhoes. Additionally, new wooden poles and replacement transformers are being strategically placed to streamline restoration efforts.
 
COVID-19
Recognizing that many residents are currently home due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, for everyone’s safety, the company asks customers to observe a six-foot social distance if they must be near workers and always remain outside the work zone. Allowing crews to remain uninterrupted and focused on their work enables workers to determine damage and make repairs more quickly.

How to Stay Up-To-Date 
NYSEG and RG&E will provide updates throughout the event to the general public on their website and social media channels (Facebook and Twitter). Customers should also sign up for email alerts and download the NYSEG or RG&E mobile app to get the most up-to-date information. 

Safety Tips
The companies also offer customers the following reminders to prepare for the storm and stay safe if power outages do occur.

Before a storm strikes

  • You can 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” or “RG&E”. 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 and here for RG&E.
  • Keep battery-operated flashlights and radios on hand, along with supplies of drinking water and non-perishable foods.
  • Make sure that smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices are fully charged.
  • Fill your car’s fuel tank.

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 and RG&E customers should call 800.743.1701 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 or RG&E at 800.743.1701.
  • 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.

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 and RG&E customers are asked to call at 800.743.1701 to report downed wires. Once this vital public safety work is complete, the company 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 or RGE.com and on the company’s social media pages:

•    Facebook: @NYSEandG
•    Twitter: @NYSEandG
•    Facebook: @RochGandE
•    Twitter: @RGandE
 

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About NYSEG: New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG) is a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc. Established in 1852, NYSEG operates approximately 35,000 miles of electric distribution lines and 4,500 miles of electric transmission lines across more than 40% of upstate New York. It also operates more than 8,150 miles of natural gas distribution pipelines and 20 miles of gas transmission pipelines. It serves approximately 894,000 electricity customers and 266,000 natural gas customers. For more information, visit nyseg.com. 

About RG&E: Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation (RG&E) is a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc. Established in 1848, RG&E operates approximately 8,800 miles of electric distribution lines and 1,100 miles of electric transmission lines. It also operates approximately 10,600 miles of natural gas distribution pipelines and 105 miles of gas transmission pipelines. It serves approximately 378,500 electricity customers and 313,000 natural gas customers in a nine-county region in New York surrounding the City of Rochester. For more information, visit rge.com. 

About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) is a leading, sustainable energy company with approximately $36 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states. With headquarters in Orange, Connecticut, AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks owns eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. AVANGRID employs approximately 6,600 people. AVANGRID supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2019 and 2020 by the Ethisphere Institute. For more information, visit avangrid.com

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