Con Edison on High Alert as Hurricane Irene Heads for New York

NEW YORK – As Hurricane Irene approaches New York, Con Edison is closely monitoring its progress and is preparing for the possibility of extensive outages to electric, gas and steam customers.

The company is taking all the necessary steps to prepare for the potential impacts of this storm. The storm’s high winds have the potential to topple trees and power lines throughout the company’s service area.

Customers can report power interruptions or service problems as well as view service restoration information online at www.conEd.com and on their cell phones and PDAs. They may also call Con Edison at 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). When reporting an outage, customers should have their Con Edison account number available, if possible, and report whether their neighbors also have lost power.

Click here to learn more on how to report an outage: http://coned.com/videos/index.asp?ID=92c87efdff732d37c203fc77706a657b

In the event of major flooding, the company said that it would have to wait for waters to recede before workers could even enter some facilities to begin assessing damage to equipment.

The company is advising its customers to pay close attention to evacuation orders from city and municipal officials. Con Edison will continue to provide updates through the media as the storm moves closer. In addition, important information will also be posted on the company’s Web site, www.conEd.com. The company is in constant communication with the New York City Office of Emergency Management and the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services and company personnel are working closely with city and municipal emergency officials.

In the event that the hurricane impacts our area, Con Edison offers the following safety tips:

· If you see downed electrical wires, do not go near them. Treat all downed wires as if they are live. Never attempt to move or touch them with any object. Be mindful that downed wires can be hidden from view by snow, tree limbs, leaves or water.

· Report all downed wires to Con Edison and your local police department immediately. If a power line falls on your car while you’re in it, stay inside the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel.

· If your power goes out, turn off all lights and appliances to prevent overloaded circuits when power is restored.

· Check to make sure your flashlights and any battery-operated radios are in working order. Also, make sure you have a supply of extra batteries. Weather updates and news on power outages can be heard on most local radio and television stations.

· Avoid opening your freezer to see if food is still frozen. Every time you open the door, room-temperature air enters and speeds the thawing process. Most fully loaded freezers will keep food frozen for approximately 36 to 48 hours; half-full freezers will keep food frozen for approximately 24 hours.