ConEd Calls In 100s Of Contractors To Deal With Expected Power Outages

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — Con Edison said crews are already mobilizing for Tuesday night’s storm.

Con Edison is activating hundreds of contractor workers in addition to company crews to restore any outages caused by the rain and windstorm due to hit the region Tuesday evening.

Con Edison said it has tapped 705 outside workers to assist in quickly addressing power outages and any other service problems. More critically, the crews will be on the lookout for potentially dangerous cases. To ensure public safety, Con Edison said, workers may guard downed wires until crews make repairs. Company personnel may be in unmarked cars but will always have Con Edison identification.

The strong winds can cause trees and branches to fall onto power lines and bring those lines down, causing customers to lose service and creating a safety hazard. The utility is urging the public to stay safe by keeping away from downed wires which could be be live.

Con Edison officials said that the timing of the storm could cause unique problems for the utility. The rain can carry road salt into manholes and when salty water makes contact with underground electric delivery cables, disruptions for customers served by the underground system can result.

The rain is also expected to cause coastal flooding. In the event of major flooding, the company would have to wait for flood waters to recede before workers can enter some key facilities to assess damage.

The utility, which serves most of Westchester County, said that the priority for restoration will be critical customer facilities that have an impact on the public, such as mass transit, hospitals, police and fire stations, and sewage and water-pumping stations. Crews will then prioritize repairs that will provide power to the largest numbers of customers as quickly as possible, then move on to restore smaller groups and eventually individual customers.

Con Edison customers can sign up for text alerts here. Customers can also report outages and check service restoration status here, with Con Edison’s mobile app for iOS or Android devices, or by calling 1-800-752-6633.

Customers who report outages will receive updates from Con Edison with their estimated restoration times as they become available. Information on outages and restoration times is also available at the Con Edison outage map.

Text messages will be sent to customers in areas forecasted to be hardest hit by this storm.

The utility also offered safety tips for homeowners and motorists, dealing with storm-related disruptions.

• Do not go near downed wires. Treat downed wires as if they are live. Never attempt to move them or touch them with any object. Be mindful that downed wires can be hidden from view by snow, tree limbs, leaves or water.
• Report all downed wires to Con Edison and your local police department immediately. If a power line falls on your car while you’re in it, stay inside the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel.
• Exercise extreme caution when entering flooded basements. Water that comes into contact with energized electrical equipment can create dangerous conditions and cause serious injury.
• Members of the public should also avoid transformers that are brought to the ground. The transformers are gray metal drums attached to the wires and poles.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installing and using a portable generator. Never plug a generator into a wall unit, use it indoors, or set it up outdoors near open home windows or air-handling vents.
• If your power goes out, disconnect or turn off appliances that would otherwise turn on automatically when service is restored. If several appliances start up at once, the electric circuits may overload.
• Charge your cellphones and other mobile devices while you have power.
• Make sure your flashlights and any battery-operated radios are working. Have a supply of extra batteries. Weather updates and news on electrical service can be heard on local radio and television stations.
• Find more storm tips and preparation here.

The company said it is in contact with New York City Emergency Management and the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services to coordinate storm response.