National Grid : Field Force Working to Restore Power As Wind, Ice Impact the Company’s Eastern New York Customers

Feb 07, 2020 - 2:45 PM

David Bertola 716-831-7136

National Grid's eastern New York field force is busy removing downed wires, tree limbs and other hazards, focusing on public safety and restoring power to customers impacted by the ongoing wintry mix of freezing rain, snow and ice accumulation of up to a half-inch in areas north of Saratoga. The dangerous weather conditions, combined with forecasted wind gusts of up to 45 mph, are expected to continue into tomorrow, bringing the potential for new power outages. Among the hardest hit areas are Essex, Hamilton, Saratoga, Washington and Warren counties.

'As this storm continues impacting our electricity system, our crews will be out there in full force, working around the clock to restore service as quickly and safely as possible,' said Melanie Littlejohn, National Grid's New York vice president.

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 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.

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 deadlycarbon 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.

Gas Safety

• The buildup of ice and snow around or over natural gas meters, regulators and pipes can pose serious safety risks. Ice and snow falling from a roof can damage gas meters or service connections to customers' homes or businesses, resulting in potential gas leaks. Customers should take immediate action if a natural gas leak is suspected:

• Get Out - All occupants should leave the house immediately. Do not use the telephone, light switches or automatic garage door openers for any reason.
• Call Us - After leaving the house and reaching a safe environment, call National Grid's 24-hour gas emergency number: 1-800-892-2345.
• Stay Out - Do not return to your home until National Grid tells you it is safe to do so.

• Cleared snow should never be piled around vents. A blocked vent can lead to the buildup of deadly carbon monoxide.
• The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to those of the flu and can include headaches, weakness, confusion, chest tightness, skin redness, dizziness, nausea, sleepiness, heart fluttering or loss of muscle control. If you suspect carbon monoxide is present in your home, immediately go outside and breathe deeply; then call 911.
• When clearing snow, customers and snow removal contractors should be aware of the location of natural gas equipment to avoid coming into contact with meters, outside gas risers, or piling snow around vents mounted on the outside of buildings.

A Reminder on 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 infrastructure damage can be assessed and restoration plans can be executed.
• It's normal for outage numbers and estimated restoration times to fluctuate. The numbers can increase or decrease as we de-energize lines to make conditions safe for repairs. Additionally, there could be new outages that occur as the 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 learn more about power restoration estimates for a specific address is to log into our Report or Check Outage page.

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.

Our Restoration Process

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, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. 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, friend us on Facebook, and find our photos on Instagram.