FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2011 – 3 p.m.
>> Dry ice and bottled water locations: http://www.nyseg.com/Outages/default.html [2]
>> NYSEG urges customers to stay away from downed power lines – even lines that appear dead can be deadly. NYSEG customers should call 1.800.572.1131 to report downed power lines or other hazardous situations. NYSEG’s natural gas emergency number is 1.800.572.1121.
>> Emergency generators can be dangerous. Carefully read, understand and follow manufacturer’s instructions when operating an emergency generator. Never run emergency generators indoors; operate them only outdoors in well-ventilated areas and away from windows and doors.
>> Outage information: http://www.nyseg.com/Outages/outageinformation.html [3]
>> Follow us on Twitter: @NYSEandG www.twitter.com/nyseandg [4].
>> The next news release will be distributed at 7 p.m.
Rochester, NY – NYSEG has now restored 82% (234,000) of the 285,000 services interrupted as a result of damage from Hurricane Irene. (In these figures, customers that have been interrupted and restored more than once are counted for each time they have been interrupted and restored.) More than 1,400 NYSEG, Rochester Gas and Electric, and contract line and tree crews from as far away as the Midwest are on the power restoration team.
Approximately 51,000 customers are currently without power:
- 26,200 in NYSEG’s Brewster Division (parts of Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties).
- 16,400 in NYSEG’s Oneonta Division (parts of Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Greene, Herkimer, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Otsego, Schoharie and Ulster counties).
- 5,200 in NYSEG’s Plattsburgh Division (parts of Clinton, Essex, Franklin and Hamilton counties).
- 2,800 in NYSEG’s Liberty Division (parts of Sullivan, Orange, Delaware and Ulster counties).
- 500 in NYSEG’s Binghamton Division (all or parts of Broome, Tioga, Chenango and Cortland counties).
Based on the extent of the known damage thus far, NYSEG estimates the following power restoration times:
- Brewster Division: Road closures and accessibility issues continue to impede damage assessment and repair work. Except in areas that remain inaccessible, 75% of customers who were without power yesterday (August 30) are projected to have service restored by late Friday (September 2). The remaining customers in these accessible areas are projected to be restored by late on Wednesday (September 7). The restoration of those customers who are in areas that are currently inaccessible will be dependent upon NYSEG’s ability to gain access to assess damage and make repairs.
- Liberty Division: 90% of the customers who were without power yesterday (August 30) are projected to have service restored by Friday night (September 2); all power is projected to be restored by late Saturday (September 3).
- Binghamton Division: All but approximately 400 customers will have power restored by Thursday (September 1); all power is projected to be restored by midnight Friday (September 2).
- Plattsburgh Division: All but approximately 1,000 customers will have power restored by Friday night (September 2); all power is projected to be restored by midnight Saturday (September 3).
- Oneonta Division: Road closures and accessibility issues continue to impede damage assessment and repair work. Except in areas that remain inaccessible, 75% of customers who were without power yesterday (August 30) are projected to have service restored by late Friday (September 2). The remaining customers in these accessible areas are projected to be restored by late on Wednesday (September 7). The restoration of those customers who are in areas that are currently inaccessible will be dependent upon NYSEG’s ability to gain access to assess damage and make repairs.
As estimated times of restoration are refined, they will be posted athttp://www.nyseg.com/Outages/outageinformation.html [3].
Storm Stats – NYSEG Statewide Service Area
- 424,000 pounds of dry ice and 55,000 gallons of bottled water distributed to customers
- 2,500+ incidents of wires down
- 200+ broken poles
- 27 transmission lines locked out; 16 now back in service
- 19 substations out of service; all now back in service
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