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National Grid Restores Power to 90 Percent of Western New York Customers Impacted by Sunday’s Storm

Nov 16, 2020 - 4:45 PM

Categories:

Upstate NY

Storm Response

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National Grid’s western New York field force has restored power to 90 percent of the nearly 53,000 customers impacted by the severe storm that caused widespread damage in the region on Sunday. Crews are continuing to repair extensive damage to equipment and facilities after high winds brought down trees, tree limbs, wires, poles and other hazardsAreas hardest hit include ErieNiagaraCattaraugus and Chautauqua counties 

The majority of customers who remain without service are expected to have their power restored by 11:30 p.m., with isolated and scattered pockets and single customer outages in the hardest hit areas restored into Tuesday. The most accurate way for customers to check on the power restoration estimate for their specific address is to log into the “Report or Check Outage page on National Grid’s Outage Central site.   

Whilwe have made steady progress, our work will continue until all affected customers have had their service restored,” said Matt Barnett, Vice President of New York Electric Operations.  

National Grid continues to distribute bottled water and dry ice through 6 p.m. today at the following locations:  

Dunkirk Training Grounds     
665 Brigham Rd., Dunkirk, 14048

JFK Recreation Center 
 

114 Hickory St., Buffalo, 14204 

Customers who remain without power when their neighbors have been restored are encouraged to call National Grid at 1-800-867-5222Once restoration has been completed, National Grid crews will remain in the field for the days that follow to complete storm cleanup. The company reminds motorists to use caution as they approach work areas, to ensure the safety of utility and other storm-response personnel. 

Electricity & Generator Safety

  • If a power outage occurs, customers can notify National Grid online to expedite restoration.
  • Never touch downed power lines; always assume they are carrying live electricity. Downed lines should be immediately 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.
  • Charge all electronic devices.
  • 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.

 

Estimated Restoration Times

  • In the early stages of a storm, restoration times on National Grid’s Outage Central site may be listed as “assessing conditions.” This is because debris such as trees, tree limbs, and downed wires, must be cleared away so that damage to our equipment can be assessed and restoration plans can be executed. 
  • It's normal for outage numbers and Estimated Restoration Times to fluctuate as we de-energize lines to make conditions safe for repairs. Additionally, there could be new outages that occur if strong, damaging winds continue.
  • Outage Central Reminder: Our Outage Central page shows the estimated time of restoration for 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 Outage page.

 

The Restoration Process

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. 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 top priority, followed by repairs to neighborhood circuits, transformers and service wires. Click here for information about the company’s restoration process.
         As restoration work continues, National Grid continues to urge the public to be cautious around downed wires and debris, and offers the following safety tips:

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 register to receive email alerts.

 


 

About National Grid

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 path to a more affordable, reliable clean energy future through our fossil-free vision. National Grid is transforming our electricity and natural gas networks with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions to meet the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 
 
For more information, please visit our website, follow us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, like us on Facebook and find our photos on Instagram.

Media Contacts

Dave Bertola

Buffalo (Western NY)

(716) 831-7136

Send an email to Contact 1

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