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National Grid Field Force Assessing Damage, Restoring Service As Powerful Wind Storm Continues to Impact Eastern New York

Oct 07, 2020 - 9:30 PM

Categories:

Upstate NY

Storm Response

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A National Grid field force is active across eastern New York removing downed wires, trees, tree limbs, broken poles and other hazards, focusing on public safety, assessing damage and restoring power to the more than 160,000 customers impacted by the ongoing rain and wind storm. The dangerous wind conditions are expected to continue throughout the evening, bringing the potential for further power interruptions in the region.

As of 8 p.m., the hardest hit areas include Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Columbia and Montgomery counties. Given the significant damage to equipment and trees in eastern New York, combined with new outages from the sustained storm, detailed restoration estimates will be provided once the storm subsides and a thorough damage assessment can be completed.

Crews will continue to work around the clock to restore power as quickly and safely as possible in challenging conditions. The company’s first priority is to ensure the safety of our customers and our crews by clearing away dangers such as live, downed power lines. Click here for a video on how National Grid restores power after a storm.

National Grid offers customers these important storm safety reminders:

  • If a power outage occurs, customers can notify National Grid online.

  • Never touch downed power lines; always assume they are carrying live electricity. Downed lines should immediately be reported to National Grid at 1-800-867-5222 or by calling 911.

  • Generators used to supply power during an outage must be operated outdoors to prevent the buildup of deadly carbon monoxide. Before operating a generator, be sure to disconnect from National Grid’s system by shutting off the main breaker, located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could endanger our crews and your neighbors.

  • Customers who depend on electrically powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should register as a life support customer by calling National Grid at 1-800-642-4272. In a medical emergency, always dial 911.

  • Keep a number of working flashlights and an extra supply of batteries in your home and be sure to charge all electronic devices before the storm.

  • Please use caution when driving near emergency responders and crews restoring power.

  • Be sure to check on elderly family members, neighbors and others who may need assistance during an outage.

       

      A Reminder on Estimated Restoration Times

      • Immediately after a storm, restoration times on National Grid’s Outage Central site may be listed as “assessing conditions.” That’s because safety hazards, such as trees, tree limbs, and downed wires must be cleared away so that infrastructure damage can be assessed, and restoration plans can be executed.

      • It's normal for outage numbers and ETRs to fluctuate. The numbers can go up and down as an ongoing storm causes new outages and/or as we de-energize lines to make conditions safe for repairs and restoration. Additionally, there could be new outages that occur that are separate from storm-related outages. 

      • Outage Central Reminder: Our Outage Central page shows the estimated time of restoration for entire communities and reflects the estimated time for the last customer in that community to have power restored. The most accurate way for customers to check on the power restoration estimate for their specific address is to log into our Report or Check an Outage page.

       

      The Restoration Process

      The company’s priority is to ensure the safety of our customers and our crews by clearing away dangers such as live, downed power lines. Next come repairs to main transmission facilities, including towers, poles and high-tension wires that deliver power to thousands of customers. Recovery work at local substations also is a high priority, followed by repairs to neighborhood circuits, transformers and service wires.

      National Grid continues to work closely with local officials to coordinate restoration efforts.  Customers are reminded to remain aware of potential safety hazards such as damaged trees, particularly broken limbs that haven’t yet fallen to the ground.

       

      Stay informed and connected:

      • Customers can receive personalized alerts by text, email, and/or phone when an outage is detected at their property by enrolling in the company’s outage alert option. To register, text REG to 64743, enter your National Grid electricity account number and select your preferred method(s) of notification. Customers also can text OUT to 64743 to report an outage.

      • For real-time power outage information, online outage reporting, and in-depth storm safety information, visit National Grid’s Outage Central website. Customers who create an online profile also can sign up for email alerts.

      About National Grid

      National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future — transforming our networks with more reliable and resilient energy solutions to meet state climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

      For more information, please visit our website, follow us on X (formerly Twitter), watch us on YouTube, like us on Facebook and find us on Instagram.

      Media Contacts

      Patrick Stella

      Albany (Eastern NY)

      518-433-3838

      Send an email to Contact 1

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