NYSEG Encourages Customers in Flood-Prone Areas to Consider How Utility Services Could Be Affected

Rochester, NY – With the possibility of heavy rain and flooding as Tropical Storm Lee bears down on the Northeast, NYSEG encourages customers in flood-prone areas – and even customers who experience persistent basement flooding – to consider how their electricity and natural gas services could be affected by high water. By taking appropriate actions, customers affected by flooding can ensure their safety and lessen potential property damage

NYSEG offers customers the following tips:

>> If flooding of a home or business has already occurred or is about to occur, customers should contact their utilities to have electricity and natural gas service turned off. Customers should never attempt to turn off electricity and natural gas service.     

>> Stay out of flooded basements. Energized wiring or outlets below the water line may pose a hazard; natural gas service in a flooded basement may also pose a danger.

>> To have electricity service restored once flood waters have receded: Customers should contact their utility to discuss specific circumstances; a safety inspection by a certified electrical inspector may be necessary before service can be restored. Someone must be present for service to be turned on, the basement must be free of water and the electrical panel must be clean and free of debris. Customers and contractors should never attempt to turn on electricity service.

>> To have natural gas service restored once flood waters have receded: If the natural gas meter and/or regulator were under water, customers must first contact their natural gas company. If any natural gas equipment (furnace, boiler, water heater, etc.) has been under water, they need to contact a plumbing and heating contractor to have the equipment checked. Customers can then contact their natural gas company to have service restored. Customers and contractors should never attempt to turn on natural gas service.

NYSEG also reminds customers:

- If you smell natural gas, get up, get out and call your natural gas company from another location. Do not light matches, use any electrical appliances, turn lights on or off, or use the phone at the location of the suspected leak – any of these actions could provide a source of ignition for any natural gas that is present.

- Stay away from downed power lines. Even lines that appear “dead” can be deadly.

>> To report electric emergencies and power interruptions, NYSEG customers should call 1.800.572.1131; to report natural gas emergencies, 1.800.572.1121.

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About NYSEG and Iberdrola USA: NYSEG, a subsidiary of Iberdrola USA, serves 878,000 electricity customers and 261,000 natural gas customers across more than 40% of upstate New York. Iberdrola USA, a subsidiary of global energy leader Iberdrola, S.A., is an energy services and delivery company with more than 2.4 million customers in upstate New York and New England. We are a team of dedicated individuals working as one to deliver value to our customers, employees and shareholders. By providing outstanding customer service and exceptional reliability, while holding safety and the environment in high regard, we aspire to be a world-class energy company. For more information, visit www.nyseg.com and www.iberdrolausa.com.

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Media Contact:                                   
Clayton Ellis
cmellis@nyseg.com
607.762.7336