NYSEG and RG&E Responding to First Storm of the New Year

Powerful Windstorms Causing Service Disruptions Statewide

ROCHESTER, NY — January 1, 2019 — NYSEG and RG&E, subsidiaries of AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), a diversified energy and utility company, are responding to damage resulting from a band of extreme storms traveling through New York. NYSEG and RG&E personnel throughout the state have been deployed to the affected areas, working alongside contractor and mutual assistance personnel to restore power to the more than 55,000 customers impacted by the storm thus far.

Work will continue throughout the day and evening to make repairs to infrastructure damaged by the powerful windstorms. We are focusing restoration efforts on all customers who are without power. We anticipate restoring a majority of customers by late this evening and 100% of customers by 11:30 PM January 2. Customers can visit outage list webpages at  nyseg.com or rge.com for specific restoration information related to their accounts as it becomes available. As this weather event is still active, we are continuing to prepare for and respond to interruptions in their service areas and are dispatching crews accordingly. Restoration times will vary throughout the state as the storm continues to make its way through eastern New York.

There are reports so far of more than 230 downed wires and 30 broken poles. The public should avoid all downed wires as they may be unsafe. Crews respond to outages systematically with safety as the first priority.

We encourage customers to sign up for our free Outage Alerts service to receive updates throughout the day automatically by phone, text, or email as we update the status of restoration in their area. This information is also available online at nyseg.com  or rge.com.

Power Restoration Priorities

Our 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.) Once this vital public safety work is complete, we will assess the damage to the electricity delivery system and develop a detailed restoration plan. Crews will make repairs as quickly as possible.

We offer customers the following tips to stay safe. Before a storm strikes:

  • 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. 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.
  • When using an emergency heating source, like a wood stove, fireplace, or kerosene heater, keep fuels away from the flames and be sure to ventilate properly.
  • Never use grills or camp stoves indoors — they can give off dangerous gases.
  • Keep refrigerators and freezers closed as much as possible. Most food will last 24 hours or longer if you minimize the opening of refrigerator and freezer doors.
  • Turn off or unplug major appliances to avoid overloading circuits when power is restored.

For customers that plan to install or already have generators:

  • Hire a licensed electrician to install permanent generators and transfer switches.
  • Properly ground all portable generators.
  • Carefully read and observe all instructions in your generator’s operating manual.
  • Never run a generator indoors, or even in an open garage.
  • If your carbon monoxide detector goes off – get out of the building immediately and call 911.
  • Do not store fuel indoors or try to refuel a generator while it’s running.

After power is restored:

  • Turn on appliances and sensitive electronic equipment one at a time to avoid overloading circuits.
  • If a basement or home was flooded, have an electrician check the home before contacting NYSEG and RG&E to have services turned on.
  • Replenish any emergency supplies used during the storm.

We urge customers to avoid downed lines and want to remind drivers to use caution when approaching utility crews. The working conditions are difficult, and our workers appreciate everyone’s consideration for their safety.

Customers can also get the latest updates on storm and restoration efforts on the Companies’ Facebook and Twitter pages.

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

Kevin.Ortiz@avangrid.com

203.499.3496

 

 

 

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