NYSEG restorations continue; company releases expected completion times

NYSEG, a subsidiary of AVANGRID Inc., has announced 95% of restorations for those still without power will be complete by 11:30 p.m. tonight. The company noted the one exception is the Plattsburgh division, which consists of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton and St. Lawrence counties, which has a 95% estimated time of restoration of 3 p.m. Sunday.

As of a press release sent before 9 a.m. this morning, 12,400 NYSEG customers are without power. More than 178,000 customers have been impacted by this storm. Company crews have continued work to assess damage, perform make safe activities, clear roads and make repairs. Crews continued work throughout the night and will do so until every customer is restored.

Currently, more than 1,400 field personnel are engaged in restoration efforts across the state. Crews have been met with challenging conditions as the weather gets colder, the terrain becomes rougher and access to remote areas require specialized equipment such as ATVs. Despite the conditions, significant progress has been made throughout the day and those efforts will continue through the overnight period. The company is also coordinating response efforts with state and local emergency management authorities in impacted areas.

NYSEG will continue to provide updates throughout the event to the general public on its website and social media channels (Facebook and Twitter). The company also offers customers the following safety reminders.

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 and Twitter: @NYSEandG.