Mar 14, 2023
Central Hudson Announces Dry Ice Distribution; Restores Power to Thousands

Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. has restored power to thousands of customers who have been impacted by the ongoing nor’easter that has interrupted service to more than 27,000 homes and businesses.  As of 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, approximately 7,000 customers have had service restored with the majority of outages located in Dutchess and Ulster Counties:

  • Albany County: 1,183 customers impacted
  • Columbia County: 750 customers impacted
  • Dutchess County: 10,582 customers impacted
  • Greene County: 2,357 customers impacted
  • Orange County: 461 customers impacted
  • Putnam County: 668 customers impacted
  • Ulster County: 4,796 customers impacted

“The first significant winter storm of the season has brought wide-spread outages to our service area and our field force of more than 600 line and line clearance professionals are working to restore service as safely and efficiently as possible,” said Ryan Hawthorne, Vice President of Electric Engineering and Operations. “Due to the ongoing weather conditions additional outages are expected. Given the extended duration of this storm, we are anticipating a multi-day restoration effort.”

Dry ice and bottled water distribution will begin at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at the following locations:

  • Tops Supermarket, 6726 US-9, Rhinebeck, NY 12572
  • Lowes Home Improvement, 650 NY-299, Highland, NY 12528

As of 12 p.m., both Ulster and Dutchess Counties remained under a State of Emergency. Residents in need of dry ice and water will be considered essential for the purposes of traveling to and from these sights. Customers who decide to travel for dry ice or bottled water should exercise an abundance of caution.

Residents are advised to exercise an abundance of caution around downed power lines by staying at least 30 feet away, and remember that downed lines can become entangled and hidden in fallen limbs. Residents should also remember to assume any downed power lines are live.

Hawthorne also reminded customers that cold weather poses an added risk to our most vulnerable customers. Central Hudson continues to partner with our local officials and first responders in order to ensure our elderly and infirm customers remain safe. Residents are reminded to check in on their neighbors as well. Also, as cold temperatures can pose a risk to plumbing, residents may wish to consider allowing faucets to drip and/or opening faucets.

Customers are advised to keep safety in mind, particularly during power interruptions:

  • Never use kitchen stoves or outdoor gas or charcoal grills indoors, as they pose a fire hazard and over time can give off carbon monoxide gas;
  • Beware of fallen trees and limbs, and use caution when traveling;
  • Avoid the use of candles for illumination due to fire hazards;
  • Follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions on the use of emergency generators, and be sure to shut off the main breaker when in use and operate the units outdoors;
  • Operate cars and motor vehicles outdoors only, and never inside the garage; and
  • Avoid travel along roadways as hazardous conditions may cause driving accidents, including those involving utility poles which may cause power interruptions.
  • Visit hudsonvalleyweather.com for the latest forecast information.

Customer should avoid cold weather hazards by:

  • Exercising care when using space heaters by keeping them away from flammable materials such as paper or curtains, placing them out of areas of foot traffic, and shutting them off when not in use;
  • Clearing ice that has the potential to fall, particularly near doorways and around utility meters, and keeping meters free of snow by lightly brushing them with a broom;
  • Keeping chimneys and flues clear of ice, snow and other obstructions to prevent carbon monoxide from entering the home; and
  • Exercise caution when outdoors or avoid spending time outside when possible.

Customers can stay informed of storm and restoration conditions in the following ways:

  • By text messaging: Customers should enroll in Central Hudson’s Texting Program to use text messaging to report their power condition and to obtain repair status. To enroll, visit CentralHudson.com/Alerts or text REG to 236483;
  • On the Web: Visit www.CentralHudson.com/Storms to report outages and obtain restoration updates;
  • Mobile App: A free Central Hudson mobile application is available for Android and Apple devices at www.CentralHudson.com/mobileapp;
  • Through social media: “Like” Central Hudson on Facebook (Facebook.com/CentralHudson) and “Follow” on Twitter (Twitter.com/CentralHudson); and
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  • By phone: Call the Central Hudson PowerLine at (845) 452-2700 or 1-800-527-2714, and please use the automated system to report or monitor your power condition.
  • If a member of your household needs electricity to operate life sustaining equipment, please contact customer service at (845) 452-2700.

More information on preparing for storms and emergencies and communicating with Central Hudson is available at www.CentralHudson.com; for information regarding electric and natural gas safety, visit www.CentralHudson.com/Safety.

 

Central Hudson crews work to repair damage on Van Dam Road in Hyde Park, Dutchess County.