All O&R Resources Mobilized to Reconstruct Electric System

October 30, 2012

Oct. 30, 2012 10 p.m. — Over 1,800 O&R employees and contractors are working to rebuild large portions of the electric system destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. Service to the majority of the 225,000 electric customers affected is expected to be restored within the next 10 days. However, due to the extensive and widespread damage, complete repairs and total service restoration could take weeks. These projections are very preliminary and will be adjusted as the full extent of the damage is determined. So far, service has been restored to 15,000 customers.

O&R’s primary focus for the next several days is restoring the 27 transmission circuits and 17 substations that sustained serious damage during the Hurricane. Crews not involved in the transmission and substation repair effort are being deployed to systematically assess and address the 101 distribution circuits that were taken down by heavy winds and falling trees. These crews are also working closely with municipalities to assist them in addressing their needs.

Site safety personnel have been dispatched to secure locations where wires are down and still energized.  As these conditions are made safe, personnel will be redeployed to locations where de-energized wires are down to barricade those areas.

As Halloween approaches, O&R is asking customers to be extremely careful and keep themselves and their children far away from the thousands of downed wires lying across area roads. Always assume a downed wire is live and dangerous and keep a minimum 50-foot distance.

O&R also reminds customers that portable generators pose a serious hazard if used improperly. They should be used and installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A wrong connection could feed electricity back through the lines and endanger our repair crews. To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, never use generator indoors. Only operate a generator outdoors in a well-ventilated, dry area away from air intakes to the home. Protect your generator from direct exposure to rain and snow, preferably under a canopy, open shed or carport.

More details regarding these safety tips and others are available by visiting www.oru.com and clicking on the Storm Information Center.