NYSEG Continues to Restore Service as High Winds and Rain Persist - 4:30 pm

High Winds and Heavy Rain Cause Service Disruptions

BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK — October 17, 2019 — 4:30 p.m. NYSEG, a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc., is working to restore power to customers impacted by the nor’easter that has brought high winds and heavy rain to much of its service area. In total, since the beginning of the event, more than 37,000 customers have been impacted as a result of the weather. Currently, less than 5,000 customers are without power. The company continues to monitor the weather across the state as forecasts call for continued wind gusts and rain through the 7 p.m. hour.

The company’s Binghamton, Brewster and Plattsburgh divisions are currently experiencing the most significant impact. This includes the counties of Broome, Chenango, Clinton, Dutchess, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Putnam, St. Lawrence, Tioga and Westchester.

“Our line workers continue to do a great job restoring service to impacted customers,” said Trish Nilsen, Director of Emergency Preparedness for NYSEG. “As we restore power to one group of customers, downed trees and branches cause additional outages elsewhere across the state. Our crews are holding steady and will remain focused until all customers are restored.”

Company personnel will continue to work until all customers are restored. Customers can obtain the estimated restoration time for their home or business by visiting nyseg.com . Storm readiness teams will continue to track the weather throughout the evening, mobilizing and responding to outages as they occur. The company has additional contract line and tree crews ready to help restore service in the areas impacted.

Current forecasts call for wind and rain to continue throughout the early evening period, with gusts reaching upwards of 45 mph. Downed power lines as a result of fallen trees and branches are likely as a result. NYSEG urges customers to exercise caution if traveling and to leave tree removal to the professionals, as power lines may be entangled in debris.

NYSEG will continue to provide updates throughout the event to the general public on their website and social media channels (Facebook and Twitter). The company also offers customers the following reminders to prepare and stay safe if power outages do occur.

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 1.800.572.1131 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 1.800.572.1131.
  • 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.

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 1.800.572.1131 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 and on the company’s social media pages:

Facebook: @NYSEandG
Twitter: @NYSEandG

Media Contacts:

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