NYSEG Responding as Weather Disrupts Power to Thousands - 5 pm

Restoration work expected to continue overnight

BINGHAMTON, NY — April 13, 2020, 5:00 p.m. EST — NYSEG, an AVANGRID company, is responding after high winds and rain disrupted service to thousands of customers in the company’s Brewster division (Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties). Currently more than 22,500 customers in the division are without power – 14,800 customers in Putnam County, 6,700 in Westchester County and 980 in Dutchess County. While additional outages are possible as the weather event concludes this evening, the company announced that some customers should prepare for the possibility of being without power during the overnight period. Crews will continue to work throughout the evening and until every customer is restored.

Current forecasts call for high winds and thunderstorms to continue before exiting the region around 8 p.m. As a result, isolated wind gusts of 50-60 mph remain possible. The company urges customers to limit all unnecessary travel and proceed with caution if you must leave home. Early damage reports indicate more than 300 downed wires, in addition to broken poles and fallen trees and limbs.

Currently, nearly 1,000 company and contractor line and tree resources are on-site and responding to incidents statewide. Due to the forecasts, many of those personnel were pre-staged in the southeastern portion of the state and are currently active in the restoration effort. Resources are also being redeployed from other areas to the Brewster division to aid those engaged. In addition, the company has made some line and tree crews available to local municipalities as part of the road clearing process.

Given the ongoing COVID-19 challenge, the company reaffirmed that crews are continuing to follow CDC recommendations, including social distancing and hygiene related best practices. Recognizing the NY PAUSE has many residents sheltered at home, for everyone’s safety we ask customers to observe a six-foot social distance if they must be near our workers and always remain outside the work zone. Allowing our crews to remain uninterrupted and focused on our work enables us to determine damage and make repairs more quickly. The company is also coordinating response efforts with state and local emergency management officials.

The company will provide updates throughout the event to the general public on its website and social media channels (Facebook and Twitter) and also remind customers of the following safety tips 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.” The application is free to download.
  • Sign up for Outage Alerts to receive updates automatically by phone, text, or e-mail as the company updates the status of the restoration process in their area. Customers can sign up for Outage Alerts online.
  • 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 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 or RGE.com and on the company’s social media pages:

  • Facebook: @NYSEandG
  • Twitter: @NYSEandG

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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 www.nyseg.com.

About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) is a leading, sustainable energy company with approximately $34 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 www.avangrid.com.

Learn about the Iberdrola Group’s global pandemic response at its COVID-19 Hub.

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