CON EDISON REMINDS CUSTOMERS TO USE A BLIZZARD OF CAUTION - Company Prepares for Major Snowstorm, Urges Customers to Stay Away from Downed Wires

NEW YORK -- Con Edison crews are preparing for the first major snowstorm of 2015, a nor’easter that could bring up to two feet of snow to parts of the region and cause near white-out conditions.
 
The company reminds customers to follow safety precautions, particularly staying away from downed wires. Those wires could be live.
 
Customers can report downed power lines, outages and check service restoration status at www.conEd.com or by calling 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. 
Customers who report outages will be called by Con Edison with their estimated restoration times as they become available. To watch how our restoration process works click here.
Snow can accumulate on tree branches, causing them to snap and bring down power lines and knock customers out of service. In addition, road salt will mix with melting snow and could damage underground electrical wiring, possibly leading to outages.
 
Depending on the severity of storm damage, crews will give priority to restoring service lines that will provide power to the most customers as quickly as possible, then move on to restore smaller groups and individual customers who are without power.
 
Con Edison offers a number of mobile solutions so you can manage your accounts, report and check the status of an outage, learn energy-saving tips, and more. Text REG to OUTAGE (688243) to sign up for text notifications, and follow the prompts.
You will need to enter your Con Edison account number to complete the registration process. Once you've registered, you will not need your account number to report or check the status of a power problem. For more information, go to: http://www.coned.com/mobileapp/
Also, download Con Edison’s new free iPhone and Android app, My conEdison, to report and check the status of a power problem, and view the company’s interactive online outage map.  
Con Edison offers the following storm 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 them 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, disconnect or turn off appliances that would otherwise turn on automatically when service is restored.  If several appliances start up at once, the electric circuits may overload.
·         Check to make sure your flashlights and any battery-operated radios or televisions are in working order. Make sure you have a supply of extra batteries. Weather updates and news on restorations of electrical service can be heard on most local radio and television stations. 
·         For more storm tips and preparation, go to www.conEd.com

Customers can follow Con Edison on Twitter or like us on Facebook for general outage updates, safety tips and storm preparation information.
The company is in close contact with the New York City Office of Emergency Management and the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services to coordinate storm-response if needed.