National Grid’s expanded field force has worked around the clock to restore service to over 42,000 of the nearly 46,000 customers affected by the destructive wind and snow storm that struck Central New York this week.

The company’s line, tree, public safety and damage assessment specialists have been at work since Wednesday afternoon removing hazards – including broken tree limbs and uprooted trees – and repairing downed lines, dozens broken poles and damaged transformers. Heavy, wet snow and winds in excess of 40 mph were prevalent throughout the region, with Griffiss International Airport in Rome recording gusts of up to 53 mph. This combination of elements caused extensive tree damage and rendered roads impassable in some locations. The hardest hit areas in Central New York were in the Mohawk Valley, with Oneida and Herkimer counties sustaining significant storm damage.

National Grid crews from across the state were pre-positioned ahead of the storm and have been supplemented with outside resources from Connecticut, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Canada.

“Crews have made steady progress in the face of difficult conditions,” said Kyle Bentley, Lead Director of New York Electric Operations. He noted that there have been cases where crews were able to clear debris and restore service on a line, only to have another tree fall on that same route and interrupt service to the same customers.

“I want to personally thank our local governments, and police, fire, public works and highway departments for their assistance. Public safety and the safety of our crews remain our top priority through the restoration process, and we appreciate the support of our community partners and the patience of our customers as we continue to work around the clock to repair all of the damage,” Bentley added.

Estimated Times of Restoration for Central New York Customers

The company is providing the following general estimated times of restoration for customers who remain without service in Central New York. Power is being consistently restored to customers across the region and ETRs are updated on the company’s Outage Central site. Additionally, customers can check on the power restoration estimate for their specific address by logging into our Report or Check an Outage page.

All National Grid customers in Central New York who remain without service due to the storm are projected to have power restored by 11:30 p.m. today. Isolated and scattered single customer outages in the hardest-to-access areas could potentially extend into Friday.

Crews will do everything within their control to complete restoration as quickly and as safely as possible. The company’s extensive resources will remain in the region until every outage is repaired.

Estimated Restoration Times

• In the early stages of a storm, the restoration times on National Grid’s Outage Central site may be listed as “assessing conditions.” This is because debris such as trees, tree limbs, and downed wires, must be cleared away so that damage to our equipment can be assessed and restoration plans can be executed. 
• It's normal for outage numbers and estimated restoration times to fluctuate as we de-energize lines to make conditions safe for repairs. Additionally, there could be new outages that occur if strong, damaging winds and heavy snowfall continues.
• Outage Central Reminder: Our Outage Central page shows the estimated times of restoration for communities and reflects the estimated time for the last customer in that community to have power restored. The most accurate way for customers to check on the power restoration estimate for their specific address is to log into our Report or Check Outage page.

The Restoration Process

The company’s first priority is to ensure the safety of our customers and our crews by clearing away dangers such as live, downed power lines. Next comes repairs to main transmission facilities, including towers, poles and high-tension wires that deliver power to thousands of customers. Recovery work at local substations also is a high priority, followed by repairs to neighborhood circuits, transformers and service wires. Click here for a video on how National Grid restores power after a storm.

Electricity & Generator Safety

• If a power outage occurs, customers can notify National Grid online to expedite restoration.
• Generators used to supply power during an outage must be operated outdoors to prevent the buildup of deadly carbon monoxide. Before operating a generator, 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 endanger our crews and your neighbors.
• Customers who depend on electrically powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should register as a life support customer by calling National Grid at 1-800-642-4272. In a medical emergency, always dial 911.
• Keep working flashlights and an extra supply of batteries in your home and be sure to charge all electronic devices.
• If the power is out, use flashlights or other battery-powered lights. Do not use candles, which can pose a fire hazard.
• Please use caution when driving near emergency responders and crews restoring power.
• Be sure to check on elderly family members, neighbors and others who may need assistance during an outage.

Safety Near Downed Power Lines

• Always use extreme caution near downed power lines and wires, and always assume that they are carrying live electricity.
• Never touch a person or an object that is in contact with a downed line, as electricity can pass through to you.
• Take caution when approaching fallen trees, which could have power lines caught in them.
• Remember that water can conduct electricity. If you see a line down in a puddle or flooded area, avoid contact with the water to prevent risk of shock.

Learn more about downed power line safety at our website.

Stay Informed and Connected

• Customers with active electricity accounts who text ‘REG’ to 64743 can have personalized alerts sent to them via text, email or phone call when we detect an outage on their properties.
• Customers also can text ‘OUT’ to 64743 to report an outage.
• For real-time power outage information, online outage reporting, and in-depth storm safety information, visit National Grid’s Outage Central website. Customers who create an online profile also can sign up for email alerts.
• Customers can check outage status, report an outage and see the latest storm-related news releases from the company by using the updated National Grid app, free to download from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
• Visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com, follow us on X and like us on Facebook.
• Click here for details on the company’s storm preparation and restoration process. 

About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future — transforming our networks with more reliable and resilient energy solutions to meet state climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.