Con Edison Crews Mobilized for Heat
Company Urges Customers to Conserve Energy, Save Money
Con Edison is ready to respond to any service problems that arise due to the high-temperatures forecast beginning on the Fourth of July.
The company urges customers to use energy efficiently and take steps to stay safe and comfortable.
Heat, humidity and increased demand for electricity to power air conditioners can cause cables to overheat and lead to outages. The coming days could also bring thunderstorms, which can affect the overhead delivery system and cause outages.
The company urges members of the public to stay away from any wires that are downed during storms. Call your local police department or 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633) to report downed wires.
Con Edison may assign workers to guard downed wires and keep people and pets away from them. These workers may be in unmarked vehicles but they carry Con Edison identification.
Report an Outage
Con Edison will send text messages to customers in areas expected to be most impacted, reminding them to be prepared and to report an outage by simply replying OUT to the text. Customers can sign up for text alerts at coned.com/text.
Customers can also report outages and check service restoration status at conEd.com/reportoutage, with Con Edison’s mobile app for iOS or Android devices, or by calling 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633).
The company also sends e-mails to customers to communicate energy-saving tips and information on reporting outages.
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. Watch an outage map tutorial video here.
Energy-Saving Tips
New Yorkers can stay cool and save all summer by following these money-saving conservation tips:
- If you are running your air conditioner, close off unoccupied rooms. If you are using the AC in your living room and nobody is in the bedrooms, close the doors to those rooms;
- Set your air conditioner to the highest comfortable temperature. Every degree you lower the thermostat increases costs;
- To reduce heat and moisture in your home, run appliances such as ovens, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers in the early morning or late at night when it’s cooler outside;
- Keep shades, blinds and curtains closed. About 40 percent of unwanted heat comes through windows;
- Even when using AC, use ceiling and other fans to provide additional cooling and better circulation;
- Turn off AC units, lights and other appliances when not at home and use a timer to turn on your AC about a half-hour before arriving home;
- If you run a business, keep the door closed while running the AC;
- Keep AC filters clean.
Replacing an old air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR unit can reduce energy usage by 30 percent. Con Edison offers additional energy savings tips.
Energy Efficiency Programs
The best way for customers to save on their bills is to manage their usage. Con Edison offers a range of energy efficiency programs that pay customers who make energy saving upgrades.
Programs are available for residential customers, those with low incomes, small businesses, large commercial and industrial properties, and multi-family buildings.
Business customers can also earn incentives from Con Edison’s smart usage programs under which they agree to conserve at times when the demand for power is high.
Cooling Center Availability
If city and state officials activate cooling centers, find the latest information on locations and hours of availability at the following sites: New York City, New York State and visit the Westchester County website for more information.
Customers can follow Con Edison on Twitter or Facebook for general outage updates, safety tips and storm preparation information.