NYSEG and RG&E Preparing for High Winds and Rain - 3:30 pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Companies Prepare as Forecasted Weather Could Cause Service Disruptions

BINGHAMTON, NY —  October 30, 2019 — NYSEG and RG&E, subsidiaries of AVANGRID Inc. (NYSE: AGR), are preparing for high winds and rain associated with incoming storms expected to hit their service areas Thursday evening through Friday. As a result of the storm, customers may experience service disruptions. The storm is expected to impact the entire NYSEG and RG&E footprint, which includes the Western New York, Rochester, Southern Tier, North Country, Capital Region, Hudson Valley and Westchester regions.

As members of the public head out to trick-or-treat during Halloween, the companies urge folks to be aware of their surroundings, as downed wires could be hidden under leaves or other debris on the road and sidewalk. They also encourage residents to pay close attention to any warnings issued by local emergency management officials.

Current forecasts call for rain to begin Thursday afternoon and continue throughout the overnight period. Early Friday morning, high winds with gusts reaching upwards of 60 mph are expected. Softened soil conditions as a result of Thursday’s rain, coupled with gusty winds on Friday, have the potential to bring down trees and limbs, causing damage to overhead power lines and other electrical equipment.

The companies urge customers to monitor forecasts and prepare for the possibility of service interruptions. The companies’ storm readiness teams have been monitoring weather forecasts, planning, readying crews and equipment, mobilizing employees for storm duty, and have additional contract tree and line crews ready to help restore service should outages occur. The companies are also coordinating preparations with state and local emergency management authorities, and have dedicated additional resources to locations where early voting is taking place.

NYSEG and RG&E will provide updates throughout the event to the general public on their websites and social media channels (Facebook and Twitter). The companies also offer customers the following reminders to prepare for the storm and stay safe if power outages do occur.

Before a storm strikes:

  • Sign up for Outage Alerts to receive updates automatically by phone, text, or e-mail as the company updates the status of the restoration process in their area. Customers can sign up for Outage Alerts by visiting nyseg.com or rge.com and logging into their account.
  • Keep battery-operated flashlights and radios on hand, along with supplies of drinking water and non-perishable foods.
  • Make sure that smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices are fully charged.
  • Fill your car’s fuel tank.

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 and RG&E customers should call 1.800.743.1701 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 or RG&E at 1.800.743.1701.
  • 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, and RG&E customers are asked to call at 1.800.743.1701 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 or rge.com and on the company’s social media pages:

Facebook: @NYSEandG
Twitter: @NYSEandG
Facebook: @RochGandE
Twitter: @RGandE

Media Contact:

 

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