Mar 14, 2023
Central Hudson Crews Work to Restore Power to Customers Impacted by Nor'easter

Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. is working to restore power to homes and businesses impacted by the heavy, wet snow and winds that moved into the area Monday evening.  As of 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, approximately 19,500 Central Hudson customers are without power with the majority of outages located in Dutchess and Ulster Counties:

  • Albany County:          714 customers impacted
  • Columbia County:      421 customers impacted
  • Dutchess County:       6,990 customers impacted
  • Greene County:           2,598 customers impacted
  • Orange County:          912 customers impacted
  • Putnam County:          404 customers impacted
  • Ulster County:            7,390 customers impacted

“Central Hudson’s crews are working to make repairs and restore power to our customers as safely and quickly as possible,” said Ryan Hawthorne, Vice President of Electric Engineering and Operations. “In addition to our full complement of internal crews and contractors, we’ve secured mutual aid from New York, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Connecticut, and Iowa. In total, Central Hudson expects to have a field force of nearly 550 line and tree professionals working to address more than 400 individual damage locations.”

With wintry weather and blustery conditions expected to remain in the area into Tuesday evening, additional outages are possible throughout the day.

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
  • 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.

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