National Grid line, service, tree, damage assessment and public safety workers continue around-the-clock cleanup and restoration after the destruction left behind by Tropical Storm Debby’s heavy rain and damaging winds, with gusts exceeding 55 mph in some areas. The company mobilized crews and equipment in preparation for the storm and the extensive field force – including resources from Canada, Connecticut, and other areas of New England – has restored power to more than 78,000 of 92,000 affected customers. 

National Grid is working with local officials and emergency responders to coordinate restoration efforts in the areas that saw the most extensive and widespread damage from the storm. Where it is safe to do so, crews are removing significant debris – including downed wires, trees, tree limbs, broken poles, damaged transformers, and other hazards – while focusing on public safety, equipment repair and replacement, and restoration. The hardest hit areas include: Herkimer, Madison, St. Lawrence, Oneida and Oswego counties in Central New York, and Fulton, Hamilton, Saratoga, Schenectady, Columbia, Rensselaer, Essex, Warren and Washington counties in Eastern New York.

“The safety of our employees and customers is our top priority,” said Kyle Bentley, senior director of New York electric operations. “Our crews are facing hazardous conditions as they work to clear away debris and gain access to repair damage and restore power. We will do everything within our control to complete restoration as quickly and as safely as possible.”

Estimated Times of Restoration for Central and Eastern New York Customers

Most National Grid customers impacted by Tropical Storm Debby are expected to have power restored by 11:30 p.m. tonight. Isolated and scattered single-customer outages in the hardest-to-access areas may potentially extend into Sunday.

Power is being consistently restored to customers in these regions and estimated times of restoration are updated on the company’s Outage Central site. Additionally, customers can check on the power restoration estimate for their specific address by logging into our Report or Check an Outage page.

National Grid crews will do everything within their control to complete restoration as quickly as possible. The company’s extensive resources will remain in the region until the last outage is repaired.

The Restoration Process

The company’s first priority is to ensure the safety of customers and crews by clearing away dangers such as live, downed power lines. Next comes 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. Click here for a video about how National Grid restores power after a storm.

Estimated Restoration Times

• In the early stages of a storm, the 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 and heavy snowfall continues.
  
  
• 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.
    
  

Safety Near Downed Power Lines

• Customers are reminded to keep safety a priority by avoiding downed wires.  All wires should be considered live and should be immediately reported to National Grid at 1-800-867-5222 or by calling 911.
• Never touch a person or an object that is in contact with a downed line, as electricity can pass through to you.
• Take caution when approaching fallen trees, which could have power lines caught in them.
• Remember that water can conduct electricity. If you see a line down in a puddle or flooded area, avoid contact with the water to prevent risk of shock.
• NEVER drive over downed wires. If you are driving in an area with downed trees or utility poles, slow down, scan the road and stay away from any debris that may be caught in a downed wire.
• Repairing downed wires can be dangerous work, so please drive carefully when you spot our repair crews on the road.
• Learn more about downed power line safety at our website. 
  
  

Electricity and Generator Safety

• If a power outage occurs, customers can notify National Grid online to expedite restoration.
• 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 working flashlights and an extra supply of batteries in your home and be sure to 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 
  
  

Stay Informed and Connected

• Customers with active electricity accounts who text ‘REG’ to 64743 can have personalized alerts sent to them via text, email or phone call when we detect an outage on their properties.
• 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.
• Customers can read the latest company news, check outage status and report an outage by using the National Grid app.
• Visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com, follow us on X and like us on Facebook.
• Click here for details on the company’s storm preparation and restoration process. 

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.