Con Edison: newsroom - news release - Con Edison Crews Responding to Outages from High Winds and Flooding

News

Con Edison Media Relations
For Immediate Release: August 8, 2007
12:50 p.m.

CON EDISON CREWS RESPONDING TO OUTAGES FROM HIGH WINDS AND FLOODING

NEW YORK – Con Edison crews are responding to scattered outages throughout New York City and Westchester County after an early morning storm toppled trees and power lines throughout the company’s service area.

Con Edison said today that approximately 2,300 customers in New York City and Westchester County are without electrical service because of severe rain, wind, and flooding resulting from an early morning storm. At the height of the storm, more than 14,000 customers had lost electricity.

The company said that it must clear trees and wait for water to recede before workers can even begin to approach some damaged equipment. Priority for restoration is given to lines that supply the most customers out of service.

Con Edison offers the following safety tips:

If you see downed electrical wires, do not go near them. Treat all downed wires as if they are live. Never attempt to move or touch them with any object. Be mindful that downed wires can be hidden from view by 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.

If your power goes out, turn off all lights and appliances to prevent overloaded circuits when power is restored. To report a power interruption at your home, call Con Edison’s toll-free customer service number 1-800-75-CON ED (1-800-752-6633), or you may report a service problem on-line at www.conEd.com.

When reporting an outage, have your Con Edison account number available, if possible, and report whether your neighbors have also lost power. Leave at least one light switch in the on position to alert you when power has been restored.

Avoid opening your freezer to see if food is still frozen. Every time you open the door, room-temperature air enters and speeds the thawing process. Most fully loaded freezers will keep food frozen for approximately 36 to 48 hours; half-full freezers will keep food frozen for approximately 24 hours.

Customers who still have electricity are being asked to use energy wisely and to avoid the use of energy intensive appliance until further notice. Con Edison will provide updates to affected customers both directly and through the media as the situation warrants. In addition, important information will also be posted on the company’s Web site, www.conEd.com. The company is in constant communication with the New York City Office of Emergency Management and or the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services.

Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. [NYSE: ED], one of the nation’s largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $12 billion in annual revenues and $27 billion in assets. The utility provides electric, gas and steam service to more than 3 million customers in New York City and Westchester County, New York. For additional financial, operations and customer service information, visit Con Edison’s Web site at www.conEd.com.

# # #