PSEG Long Island: Storm Update – August 7, 2020 6:30 p.m.

• As of 6 p.m., 75% of the more than 420,000 customers affected by the storm have been restored.
• PSEG Long Island reports fewer than 104,000 storm-affected customers are without power.
• PSEG Long Island continues to make strong progress amid severe storm damage and estimates 85% of storm-affected customers will be restored by the end of today.
• While we expect the vast majority of customers to be restored by end of day Saturday, we are finding that each job is requiring more work than anticipated due to the extent of the storm’s damage.
• For example, many of the remaining jobs require multiple stages: tree removal, pole replacement, and restringing wires. While tree trim personnel are embedded with many line crews to maximize efficiency, this type of extensive job can still take a crew half a day and result in only 20 to 40 customers restored.
• This may unfortunately push some restorations to Sunday, with the possibility that a handful of the most extensive jobs may be restored early Monday.
• Over 3,500 lineworkers, tree trimmers and other personnel continue to work around the clock, in 16-hour shifts, until every customer is restored.
• New outages not directly related to the storm continue to be reported and assessed, as on any non-storm day. They will be restored as safely and quickly as possible.
• Due to the large number of crews from other utilities brought into our service area before Tropical Storm Isaias, power restoration is progressing faster than can be displayed on the outage map. The map will continue to fluctuate as we refine the data.
• While we have experienced issues with our communications systems, at no time did these challenges impact restoration efforts
• Crews must prioritize critical facilities first, followed by outages affecting the largest numbers of customers, and then address outages affecting small numbers or individual customers.
• In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have adapted our storm and safety procedures to follow public health guidelines and industry best practices. We thank our customers for their patience as we operate under these unusual circumstances to safely restore power as quickly as possible.

Customer Outreach Centers

• Because of the extent of the outages, PSEG Long Island will open six customer outreach centers on Saturday. These centers are open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. (or while supplies last), providing people with free water and ice. To ensure we maintain the physical distancing necessary for the safety of our employees and customers, these centers will offer drive-thru service.
• The locations for Aug. 8 are:
  • Patchogue – 460 E Main St
  • Brentwood – 1650 Islip Ave
  • Greenlawn –  288 Pulaski Rd
  • Roslyn – 250 Willis Ave
  • Woodmere – Five Towns Shopping Center- 253-01 Rockaway Blvd
  • Babylon – Babylon Town Hall – 200 E Sunrise Hwy

Aug. 7 update with PSEG Long Island President & COO Daniel Eichhorn

Customer Safety:

• Downed wires should always be considered “live.” Stay at least 30 feet away from downed power lines and immediately call 911 to report downed wires.
• Electric current passes easily through water, so stay away from downed power lines and electrical wires. Don’t drive over – and don’t stand near – downed power lines.
• Downed lines will be hard to see in the rain and can potentially be hidden in standing water. If you encounter large pools of standing water, stop, back up and choose another path.
• The safety of PSEG Long Island’s customers and employees is the company’s top priority. We ask that customers remain in their homes while crews are working nearby. If customers must speak with our crews, we ask that they practice responsible physical distancing and remain at least 6 feet away to ensure the health of everyone involved. 

Other important safety notes:

• To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, do not run any gasoline-powered generators in a garage or any other enclosed space.

For more information:

• Flickr image gallery