NYSEG Restores Power to Vast Majority of Customers Ahead of Targeted Schedule - 8 p.m.

May 3, 2017 at 8 p.m.

  • Stay away from downed power lines
  • Even lines that appear dead can be dangerous
  • NYSEG customers should call 800.572.1131 to report downed power lines or other hazardous situations

NYSEG Restores Power to Vast Majority of Customers Ahead of Targeted Schedule

BINGHAMTON, NY  May 3, 2017, 8 p.m. NYSEG, a subsidiary of AVANGRID Inc., has met its goal of restoring service to more than 90 percent of affected customers by this evening and is continuing with the restoration effort. Since the start of this event, more than 60,000 customers have been affected. As of 8 p.m., around 57,000 customers have had their service restored.

We're pleased to have made good progress with the restoration, said Mark S. Lynch, president and CEO of NYSEG and RG&E. We still have work ahead of us to restore power to our remaining customers, and we will not lessen our efforts until we restore every last customer.

NYSEG expects to have power restored to the remaining customers affected by the storm by tomorrow, Thursday, May 4, at 1 p.m. The company continues to shift resources to the affected areas and will do so until power is restored to every customer.

NYSEG encourages customers to sign up for Outage Alerts to receive updates throughout the day automatically by phone, text, or e-mail as the company updates the status of the restoration process in their area. This information is also available online at NYSEG Outage alert.

Power Restoration Priorities
NYSEG's first priorities are to respond to reports of downed power lines to keep the public safe. (NYSEG customers are asked to call 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. 

NYSEG offer the following reminders:

Stay Away From Downed Wires

  • Stay at least 20 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 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 800.572.1131.
  • Don't use a natural gas or propane range to heat your home.
  • Never use outdoor grills or stoves inside.
  • 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. 

Safety After a Storm

  • Stay out of flooded or damp basements or other areas if water is in contact with outlets, a furnace or any electrically operated appliance that is energized. The water or moisture may conduct electricity. Contact may cause serious or fatal injury.
  • You may have a lot of tree debris in your yard following a storm. Wait until power line repairs are complete before you begin your storm cleanup.
  • Turn on appliances and sensitive electronic equipment one at a time to avoid overloading circuits.
  • Replenish emergency supplies used during the storm.
  • Additional storm safety information is available at nyseg.com (click on Outage Central and then on Storm Safety).
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