Central Hudson Continues Service Restoration Progress

More than 160 field crews are deployed in Albany, Greene, Columbia and Dutchess counties working to restore electric service to the remaining approximately 4,500 Central Hudson customers impacted by the ice storm that struck the region on Thursday and Friday. Crews are making hundreds of repairs in communities hit hardest by the storm, most in higher elevations where more than an inch of ice weighted down electric lines, poles and other infrastructure. More than 75,000 Central Hudson customers lost service due to the storm in the utility’s eight-county service territory, and new cases of damage continue to be reported.

“In many cases, entire sections of electric infrastructure are being rebuilt,” said Charles A. Freni, Central Hudson’s Senior Vice President of Customer Services. “We’re grateful for the patience of our customers in these communities, which suffered the brunt of this devastating December ice storm. We’re also grateful to the municipal officials, emergency service professionals and community volunteers who have worked side by side with us to clear roadways, trim trees and operate shelters to help us restore electric service as quickly as possible in the wake of what was truly a natural disaster.”

Freni also expressed appreciation to the 17 mutual aid crews provided by Consolidated Edison and Jersey Central Power & Light, who are helping the in the restoration effort.

As of noon on Monday, approximately 1,000 customers were still without service in Albany and northern Greene counties; Coeymans, New Baltimore and Westerlo are among the communities where large-scale repairs are still underway. The majority of the customers in these counties should have their electricity restored by midnight but smaller, more localized outages will likely carry into Tuesday.

Also as of noon, more than 3,000 Central Hudson customers scattered throughout southern Columbia and northern Dutchess counties remained without electricity. Crews are working to restore service in the communities of Gallatin, Red Hook, Rhinebeck, Clinton, Pine Plains and Milan and others. The majority of remaining repairs in these communities may not be finalized until Tuesday evening, and smaller outages may not be repaired until Wednesday.

“The warm weather today may cause some thawing in areas still impacted by ice. Trees and limbs may snap back after shedding the heavy ice, possibly hitting lines and causing new power problems,“ Freni noted.  A wintry mix precipitation is forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, which may slow restoration efforts. Customers who have not reported their power outage should do so by calling Central Hudson's automated PowerLine at (845) 452-2700 or 1-800-527-2714. Customers are also reminded to stay away from downed power lines, which may be energized and dangerous, and to place generators outdoors, in well-ventilated areas.

Central Hudson continues to distribute dry ice at the Taconic Firehouse on Route 82 in West Taghkanic in Columbia County; the Cornell Hook and Ladder Fire Department at 77 Gill Road in New Baltimore in Greene Country; and beginning at 3:00 p.m., the Milan Town Hall in Dutchess County. The Milan Town Hall will also operate as an emergency shelter this evening. More than 40,000 pounds of dry ice have been distributed since Saturday.

            For more information on restoration efforts, shelter locations and dry ice distribution, log onto www.CentralHudson.com.