News
March 1, 2024National Grid Restores Power to 97% of Upstate New York Customers Impacted by Damaging Wind Storm
National Grid crews continue to work around the clock and have restored power to 191,600, or 97%, of the nearly 198,000 customers impacted by the severe winter storm that caused widespread damage across Upstate New York beginning Wednesday. The storm brought wind gusts of up to 72 mph and more than a foot of heavy, wet snow to some regions, bringing down trees, tree limbs, utility poles and electricity wires.
Nearly 3,400 line, service, tree, damage assessment and public safety workers remain in the field cleaning up damage and making repairs. External crews supplementing the company’s field force came from Connecticut, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
Among the hardest-hit areas were Albany, Essex, Fulton, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren and Washington counties in Eastern New York, and Herkimer, Lewis, Oneida and Oswego counties in Central New York.
Restoration workers have contended with icy and impassable roads, and difficult-to-reach equipment repairs in remote areas. Debris-covered streets with wires down also challenged cleanup efforts as municipalities and National Grid had to take additional time to make areas safe so that roads could be open. In addition, significant tree damage has been widespread, requiring trained forestry teams to cut back broken limbs and trunks so that restoration work could proceed.
“The remaining repairs are labor-intensive, primarily single-customer and isolated pockets of outages,” said Kyle Bentley, Lead Director of New York Electric Operations. “These outages take time as they require us to move equipment and crews street-to-street and house-to-house. We thank all of our customers for their continued patience and understanding as we advance closer to complete restoration of service. Our field force will remain active in the region until the last outage is resolved.”
Bentley added, “On behalf of National Grid, I want to extend a special thanks to the police, fire, public works, municipal officials, and other volunteers for their ongoing assistance and for their support of our customers and communities during our storm recovery efforts.”
The company reminds customers who are without service when their neighbors have power restored to call National Grid at 1-800-867-5222 or report the outage report through our website.
Estimated Times of Restoration for Central and Eastern New York Customers
The company is providing the following general estimated times of restoration for customers who remain without service due to the storm. Power is being consistently restored to customers in these regions and ETRs are updated on the company’s Outage Central site. Additionally, customers can check on the power restoration estimate for their specific address by logging into our Report or Check an Outage page.
All remaining customers impacted by the storm are expected to have power restored by 11:30 p.m. Friday. Isolated and scattered single-customer outages in the hardest-to-access areas may potentially extend into Saturday. National Grid crews will do everything within their control to complete restoration as quickly as possible. The company’s extensive resources will remain in the region until the last outage is repaired.
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 comes 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. Click here for a video on how National Grid restores power after a storm.
Estimated Restoration Times
- In the early stages of a storm, the 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 damage to our equipment can be assessed and restoration plans can be executed.
- It’s normal for outage numbers and Estimated Restoration Times to fluctuate as we de-energize lines to make conditions safe for repairs. Additionally, there could be new outages that occur if strong, damaging winds and heavy snowfall continues.
- 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 check on the power restoration estimate for their specific address is to log into our Report or Check Outage page.
Electricity & Generator Safety
- If a power outage occurs, customers can notify National Grid online to expedite restoration.
- Generators used to supply power during an outage must be operated outdoors to prevent the buildup of deadly carbon 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 working flashlights and an extra supply of batteries in your home and be sure to charge all electronic devices.
- 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.
Safety Near Downed Power Lines
- Always use extreme caution near downed power lines and wires, and always assume that they are carrying live electricity.
- Never touch a person or an object that is in contact with a downed line, as electricity can pass through to you.
- Take caution when approaching fallen trees, which could have power lines caught in them.
- Remember that water can conduct electricity. If you see a line down in a puddle or flooded area, avoid contact with the water to prevent risk of shock.
- Click here for more downed power line safety tips.
Stay Informed and Connected
- Customers with active electricity accounts who text ‘REG’ to 64743 can have personalized alerts sent to them via text, email or phone call when we detect an outage on their properties.
- 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.
- Customers can read the latest company news, check outage status and report an outage by using the National Grid app.
- Visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com, follow us on X and friend us on Facebook.
- Click here for details on the company’s storm preparation and restoration process.
