Steady progress was made Tuesday in repairing damage to Central Hudson’s electric system in the wake of severe winds delivered by Tropical Storm Sandy.
By 8 p.m., power was restored to more than 50,000, or nearly half of all impacted customers, and crews worked throughout the night.
Central Hudson estimates that by 11 p.m. on Friday, November 2, electric service will be restored to 90 percent of the more than 103,000 customers who were affected in total, and expects that some restoration activities will continue to take place over the weekend.
“This storm is a significant event, and crews are methodically clearing trees, replacing broken poles and repairing lines to bring power back to all affected customers,” said James Laurito,president of Central Hudson. “Approximately 50,000 customers remain without power this evening, and we now estimate that more than 1,100 individual damage locations must be addressed to restore service to everyone."
The utility has deployed a field force of nearly 700, including 300 line personnel from Central Hudson, mutual aid utilities and private contractors. “Every employee and member of our mutual aid crews is committed to restoring power as quickly and safely as possible,” he said.
Laurito reminded customers to be wary of downed power lines, especially on Halloween night. “Parents and children should stay clear of fallen lines and trees, and are encouraged to avoid areas of storm damage altogether,” he said. “Lines can be hidden under piles of leaves or entangled in fallen trees, making them difficult to spot. Be prudent by holding Halloween activities in areas that are well lit and free of storm damage."
Customers should call Central Hudson’s PowerLine at (845) 452-2700 or 1-800-527-2714 to report their power condition, and they are encouraged to use the automated reporting system. Customers with access to a computer may also report their power condition via www.CentralHudson.com by using the StormCentral function. Information regarding service restoration estimates, as it becomes available, can be obtained by phone and online, and updates are posted on Facebook and Twitter.
