NYSEG and National Grid report outages

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - NYSEG and National Grid are reporting thousands of outages across Erie, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Wyoming Counties.

>>Find out the latest information from NYSEG here.

 >>Find out the latest information from National Grid here.

NYSEG: 1-800-572-1131 to report your outage or for updated information. For natural gas emergencies, you can call NYSEG at 1-800-572-1121

National Grid: 1-800-642-4272 for Upstate New York customer service. Gas or Electric Emergencies: 1-800-892-2345
 

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National Grid offers tips on preparing for storms

National Grid is responding to power outages caused by heavy winds in southwestern New York and preparing for additional impact from forecasts of potentially high winds that could cause damage to power lines in several portions of its upstate New York service area in coming days.

Weather forecasters have indicated damaging winds could continue in waves during the next 48 hours from southwestern New York State through central, northern and eastern New York. In addition, heavy snow is forecasted for parts of the company’s upstate New York region.

Wind gusts of higher than 60 mph have been reported from the southwest corner of the state this morning. At 11 a.m. today, approximately 27,000 homes and business are affected by the windstorm throughout upstate New York.

The company will utilize in-house and contractor crews from across its service area, deployed as part of pre-storm planning that has been taking place across the company. Further, National Grid has been conducting outreach to state, regional and local officials to inform them of advance plans.

National Grid advises its customers to be prepared. Severe icing can cause local electrical service interruptions. It’s a good idea to have a number of working flashlights, at least one battery-operated radio and an extra supply of batteries in your home. A radio is a good way to stay in touch, as National Grid provides news media with timely information regarding service restoration efforts.

Also, post National Grid’s emergency outage reporting number—1-800-867-5222—near your telephone so it will be handy if needed. Outage information is also available at our website at www.nationalgridus.com. At the site, click on “New York,” and then click on “Outage Central.”

National Grid offers the following tips for customers to minimize inconvenience and maximize safety in the event that storm-related power interruptions do occur.

Never touch downed power lines, and always assume that any fallen lines are live electric wires. If you see one, report it immediately to National Grid or your local emergency response organization.
If you use a generator to supply power during an outage, be sure to only operate it outdoors. Before operating generators, 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 jeopardize the safety of crews working to restore power.
If you lose power, turn off any appliances that were on when the power went off, but leave one light on so you will know when power is restored.

Power problems can sometimes interrupt public water supply systems or disable well pumps, so it’s an especially good idea to keep a supply of bottled drinking water handy, as well as some canned food.

People who depend on electric-powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should let National Grid know. To register as a National Grid life support customer, call the company’s Customer Service Center at 800-642-4272.

Time-Tested Plan Restores Power Quickly

When a power outage occurs in your neighborhood, it may in fact be affecting thousands of customers. Whose electricity is restored first?

National Grid emergency crews follow a time-tested plan to begin restoring service as safely and quickly as conditions allow. Accurate damage surveys, resource assessments and restoration estimates are critical in the preliminary stages of any major weather event. Credible and consistent communication with local public officials and the media is maintained throughout the duration of the restoration effort.

First, our crews clear away hazards such as live, downed lines. The clean-up of storm-damaged trees and branches removed from our electric facilities remains the responsibility of the customer or property owner, whether private or municipal.

Next come repairs to main transmission facilities, including towers, poles and high-tension wires that deliver power from generating plants.

Recovery work at local substations is also a high priority, because power flows from transmission lines through substations on its way to you.

Circuits and transformers in neighborhoods and the wires that connect them to your home come next—starting with areas that involve the most customers.