NYSEG and RG&E Preparing for Weekend Winter Storm
Expected to be a Wintry Mix; Power Disruptions Possible
BINGHAMTON, NY — January 18, 2019 — NYSEG and RG&E, subsidiaries of AVANGRID (NYSE: AGR), are monitoring weather forecasts and preparing for a winter storm that will bring significant snowfall and a wintry mix of precipitation across the NYSEG and RG&E service areas. Current forecasts call for snow Saturday overnight into Sunday with rain and sleet in some eastern portions of the state. Snow accumulation could bring tree limbs into contact with power lines or make for hazardous travel conditions. In particular, NYSEG is monitoring the predicted wet snow and rain in the Company’s eastern service area, particularly NYSEG’s:
- Brewster Division, portions of Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester Counties;
- Liberty Division, portions of Delaware, Orange, Sullivan and Ulster Counties;
- Mechanicville Division, portions of Columbia, Saratoga, Rensselaer and Washington Counties;
- Oneonta Division, portions of Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Greene, Herkimer, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Otsego, Schoharie, and Ulster Counties;
- Plattsburgh Division, portions of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, St. Lawrence and Hamilton Counties
As the storm is still maturing and is expected to affect areas across the northeast, all NYSEG and RG&E customers are urged to monitor forecasts throughout the weekend and stay safe.
NYSEG’s and RG&E’s storm readiness teams are preparing crews and equipment and securing additional resources to respond to downed power lines and potential power interruptions. In addition to company crews, the Companies have secured additional contract line and tree resources that are being staged in the eastern portion of the service area this weekend. These crews will be working along with Company and contract crews already on site to respond to any emergencies and restore service.
NYSEG and RG&E encourage customers to sign up for Outage Alerts to receive updates throughout the event automatically by phone, text, or email as the company updates the status of any restoration process in their area. This information is also available online at https://www.nyseg.com/wps/portal/nyseg/outages/ or https://www.rge.com/wps/portal/rge/outages/.
Power Restoration Priorities
NYSEG’s and RG&E’s first priorities are to respond to known incidents of downed power lines to make the situations safe. (NYSEG customers are asked to call 1-800-572-1131 to report downed wires. RG&E customers are asked to call 1-800-743-1701.)
While this vital public safety work is being completed, the company will be assessing the damage to the electricity delivery system and developing a detailed restoration plan. Crews will make repairs as quickly as possible.
Restoring Power Following Major Storms
Repairs are first made to the backbone of the electricity system – transmission lines and substations – that bring electricity to the local distribution system that serves our customers. This is followed by any necessary repairs to the distribution system that includes the poles and power lines along streets and roads, focusing first on those circuits where we can restore power to the largest number of customers. As part of this process, the companies take into account the needs of hospitals, nursing homes, fire and police stations, as well as any other critical infrastructure. NYSEG and RG&E offer the following reminders:
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 1-800-572-1131 or RG&E at 1-800-743-1701. Our telephone systems let callers report the problem, help our crews respond quickly and efficiently, and provide customers with power interruption updates. Anyone who has access to a working computer or mobile device during a power interruption can also report the interruption online at nyseg.com or rge.com.
- Listen to a battery-powered radio for weather and power restoration updates.
- Turn off major appliances (electric water heaters, refrigerators and freezers) and sensitive electronic equipment (TVs, VCRs, DVD players, computers, and audio equipment) to prevent overloading and possible damage when power is restored. Turning off this equipment may mean unplugging it, turning off a circuit breaker or removing a fuse for the circuit that provides power to this equipment. Leave one light switch “on” to know when power has been restored.
- Don’t use a natural gas or propane range to heat your home.
- Never use outdoor grills or stoves inside.
- Keep refrigerators and freezers closed as much as possible. Most food can last 24 hours if you minimize the opening of refrigerator and freezer doors.
After Power Is Restored
- If a basement or home was flooded, customers should have an electrician check the home and have a plumbing and heating contractor check natural gas appliances before contacting NYSEG or RG&E to have services turned on.
- Turn on appliances and sensitive electronic equipment one at a time to avoid overloading circuits.
- Replenish emergency supplies used during the storm.
- Additional storm safety information is available at nyseg.com or rge.com (click on “Safety” and then on “Storm Safety”).
About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) is a leading, sustainable energy company with approximately $32 billion in assets and operations in 24 states. AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks owns eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving 3.2 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables owns and operates 7.1 gigawatts of electricity capacity, primarily through wind power, with a presence in 22 states across the United States. AVANGRID employs approximately 6,500 people. AVANGRID supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals, received a Climate Development Project climate score of “A-,” the top score received in the utilities sector, and has been recognized for two consecutive years by Ethical Boardroom as the North American utility with the “best corporate governance practices.” For more information, visit avangrid.com.
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. We also operate more than 8,150 miles of natural gas distribution pipelines and 20 miles of gas transmission pipelines. We serve 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.
Media Contact:
Kevin Ortiz
203.499.3496