7:00 AM Update: NYSEG Releases Daily Storm Restoration Work Plan for Mechanicville Division

Company expects to restore the majority of impacted customers by 8 p.m. tonight


BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — April 5, 2024, 7 a.m. — New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) has released its daily restoration plan for work that will be completed on Friday, April 5, 2024 in its Mechanicville division, which includes Columbia, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Washington counties. Currently, approximately 2,442 customers remain without power. The majority of customers are expected to be restored by 8 p.m. today.

Details of Friday’s Work Plan Include:

Crew Information: In total, more than 450 field service personnel are working across the region. Crews will be spread throughout the division making critical repairs as safely and quickly as possible.  Particularly, a focus will be placed on the heaviest impacted areas in Rensselaer and Columbia counties, including Petersburg, Berlin, New Lebanon, Copake, Austerlitz, Stephentown and Sand Lake. For the safety of our crews and the public, the company reminds customers to please stay away from downed wires and do not approach crews.

Operational Expectations: A majority of NYSEG’s field crews will be working to set new poles to replace the significant number damaged by the storm due to the severe high winds. NYSEG anticipates setting more than 35 new poles today. This includes addressing a number of broken poles in inaccessible, offroad locations that have required the company to bring in specialized equipment. 

For impacted customers, the following dry ice and bottled water distribution locations are available today:

•    Town of Berlin Firehouse, 11 Community Ave, Berlin from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
•    Veterans Comm Hall, 71 Main St, Petersburgh from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
•    Stephentown Town Hall, 26 Grange Rd, Stephentown from 10 to 11 a.m.
•    New Lebanon Community Center, 523 Route 20, New Lebanon from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
•    Copake Town Hall, 523 Route 20, New Lebanon from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.    
•    Hillsdale Town Hall, 2609 State Route 23, Hillsdale from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.    
•    Canaan Fire House, 2126 Route 295, Canaan from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

After restoration is complete, NYSEG encourages any customer without power to contact the company at 800.572.1131 to report the issue and allow crews to investigate. Once every customer is restored, the company will continue to fix remaining damage that occurred but did not affect customers or the reliability of service. That will then be followed by a full system sweep of all affected circuits to look for damage or issues that may have been missed but that could cause service disruptions in the future, such as tree limbs on power lines or leaning trees.   

NYSEG will continue to provide updates throughout the event to the general public on the company's social media channels (Facebook and X). The company also offers customers the following reminders to stay safe if power outages do occur.

Outage Information

  • Sign up for Outage Alerts to receive updates automatically by phone, text, or email as the Company updates the status of the restoration process in its area. Customers can sign up for outage alerts by visiting nyseg.com/Alerts.

  • Customers can use the NYSEG Mobile App to report and check the status of outages. To download the application, search “Avangrid” in the Apple or Android app stores and select “NYSEG.” The application is free to download.

Stay Away From Downed Wires

  • Stay at least 30 feet from a downed power line.
  • If a downed wire comes in contact with your vehicle, stay inside and wait for help. If you must get out because of fire or other danger, jump clear of the vehicle to avoid any contact with the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Land with your feet together and hop with feet together or shuffle away; don’t run or stride.
  • NYSEG customers should call 800.572.1131 to report downed power lines or other hazardous situations.

During a Power Interruption

  • Contact neighbors to see if their power is off. A loss of power may be the result of a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker.
  • To report a power interruption, use the NYSEG Mobile App, visit nyseg.com or contact NYSEG at 800.572.1131.
  • Keep refrigerators and freezers closed as much as possible. Most food will last 24 hours if you minimize the opening of refrigerator and freezer doors.

Power Restoration Priorities

The company’s first priority is to respond to reports of downed power lines to keep the public safe. NYSEG customers are asked to call 800.572.1131 to report downed wires. Once this vital public safety work is complete, the company will:

  • Assess the damage to the electricity delivery system. 
  • Develop a detailed restoration plan.
  • Make repairs as quickly as possible.

For additional information, including storm preparation tips, storm safety information, generator safety information, restoration priorities and emergency resources, visit Outage Central at nyseg.com and on the company’s social media pages:

•    Facebook: @NYSEandG
•    Twitter: @NYSEandG

NYSEG is a subsidiary of Avangrid, Inc. 

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