National Grid Continues Progress in Power Restoration in Upstate New York; Moving into Flooded Area

. (08/31/2011)(readMedia)-- Despite the lingering effects Hurricane Irene continues to have on sections of upstate New York, National Grid continues to make significant progress in restoring electrical service to affected customers. As of 3 p.m. today, more than 141,300 customers have had their service restored out of a peak of 156,500 that lost service by late Sunday night.

A significant number of the approximately 15,200 still affected by Irene are in areas that are experiencing severe flooding of area rivers and streams, particularly the Mohawk River and its tributaries in Schoharie and Montgomery counties. Initial damage assessments in those areas have been made, many by helicopter, and National Grid is adding to its field resources to address those areas as soon as travel and access is declared safe by emergency management officials.

The company expects to restore service to all customers by late tomorrow night in areas not affected by severe flooding and travel restrictions. In areas where flood waters have receded, individual customer services may require a safety inspection before power can be restored. Restoration estimates for the flooded areas have not yet been established, particularly the Amsterdam area of Montgomery County, Middleburgh and the Village of Schoharie in Schoharie County, and the Stockade area of Schenectady.

As of 3 p.m., outages in upstate New York counties served by National Grid crews from the region and other parts of the company's New York territory are as follows:

• Albany – 1,690
• Columbia – 85
• Essex – 1,165
• Fulton – 550
• Hamilton – 580
• Herkimer – 30
• Montgomery – 950
• Rensselaer – 40
• Saratoga – 950
• Schenectady – 450
• Schoharie – 3,370
• Warren – 2,500
• Washington – 900

National Grid is working with area emergency officials to provide dry ice to customers, free of charge as supplies last. Locations for dry ice distribution is as follows, with sites open through dusk:

• Albany County – Slingerland Fire Dept., 1520 New Scotland Road.
• Fulton County – Fulton County Complex, 2712 Highway 29, Johnstown.
• Montgomery County – Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 39 St. John St., Amsterdam
• Saratoga County – Edinburg Fire Co 7, North Shore Rd., Northville
• Schenectady County – 100 Keller Ave. Schenectady
• Schoharie County – Intersection of South Grand St. & Mineral Springs Rd., Cobleskill
• Washington County – Fort Ann Firehouse, 11289 Route 149, Fort Ann
• Warren County – County Municipal Center, 1340 St. Rt 9, Lake George

"While we are generally pleased with the progress we've made thus far, we continue to work around the clock to repair damage and restore service to those who have been so severely impacted by Hurricane Irene," said Ken Daly, president of National Grid in New York. "The cooperation and support we are receiving from elected officials, emergency management personnel and first-responders has been a tremendous help to our operations."

"At the same time, we sincerely thank our customers for their patience and understanding."

Power is being restored on a 24-hour basis throughout the region, as more than 3,000 people are dedicated to the effort. In addition to the flooding, road and bridge closures in many areas have hindered travel and, in many areas, required the use of specialized equipment for access, including helicopters and all terrain vehicles.

Under the company's priority system, repair crews typically first address problems with transmission lines and substations that restore critical customers such as hospitals and public safety facilities and serve large numbers of customers.

While those problems are being resolved, crews begin to work on substations and primary lines that serve many customers. Crews then target lines that serve local neighborhoods.

Lines and transformers within neighborhoods and the wires that connect them to homes and businesses come next, starting with areas that involve the most customers.

Staying Safe After the Storm

It is very important to be aware of and avoid potential safety hazards after the storm. As the weather improves and people begin to clean up around their homes and business, the company urges extreme caution around electrical wires or other equipment that may be on the ground.

If you use a generator make sure your wiring system is disconnected from our system before operating the generator. This is necessary to prevent your generator's electricity from going back into our system, which could endanger the lives of line crews and your neighbors. Be sure to only use generators outdoors. Exhaust fumes contain poisonous carbon monoxide and can kill or cause serious injury.

If your home is flooded:

• Check with an electrician before turning on anything. If there has been damage, services may require a municipal safety inspection before National Grid will be allowed to connect the electricity.
• Do not turn off the gas meter even in the event of an evacuation. The gas meter should be left on to maintain proper pressure in the gas piping within the house and to prevent water from entering the lines should flooding occur.
• Most gas appliances have safety valves that shut off the flow of gas automatically if the pilot light goes out. If your appliances have been in contact with water, please contact a licensed plumbing or heating contractor to make sure the appliances are safe to operate.
• If we shut off your gas service for safety reasons, we will provide instructions on steps required to safely restore service. Don't forget to check outdoor appliances, such as pool heaters and gas grills.

Log on to www.nationalgridus.com for more information on how to stay safe during and after Irene.

National Grid is an international energy delivery company. In the U.S., National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island, and manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. National Grid also owns over 4,000 megawatts of contracted electricity generation that provides power to over one million LIPA customers.