Uniondale, NY - March 10, 2017 - PSEG Long Island sent 230 line personnel to help complete the restoration of service to customers in upstate New York. Approximately 110,000 customers remain without power from the storm that brought strong winds to the region on Wednesday. Top gusts, upward of 80 miles per hour, were reported during the storm.
“Our contractors are a part of the PSEG Long Island family and they are always ready and available to help us in times of need,” said John O’Connell, PSEG Long Island vice president of transmission and distribution operations. “We are proud that they are working upstate to help our fellow utilities with their restoration efforts following this significant wind storm.”
PSEG Long Island's contractors began arriving in Rochester and Buffalo on Thursday, with additional crews arriving today. There, they received their assignments from National Grid NY and Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E).
“The utility industry is somewhat unique in that we all help each other,” continued O’Connell. “Just as we seek mutual aid when severe weather hits Long Island and the Rockaways, we are fortunate to be able to help other utilities make repairs and keep their customers lights on by sending our crews.”
Mutual aid allows for the sharing of resources such as labor and equipment during emergencies. The hosting utility reimburses for associated costs.
PSEG Long Island operates the Long Island Power Authority’s transmission and distribution system under a 12-year contract. PSEG Long Island is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (NYSE:PEG), a publicly traded diversified energy company with annual revenues of approximately $10.4 billion.