Prepared for the Impending Wind and Rain

PSEG Long Island has social distancing plans in place to work safely and provide excellent service

(UNIONDALE, N.Y. – April 12, 2020) PSEG Long Island is prepared for the high winds and heavy rain forecasted for the service area tomorrow. This storm system is expected to bring abnormally strong winds that are expected to peak Monday afternoon, with strong thunderstorms possible. Peak gusts of up to 70 mph are expected in eastern Suffolk County. The gusty winds may cause tree limbs to break and pull down wires, causing outages.
“We are closely monitoring what could be a significant weather event and we have a full complement of crews ready to respond safely and as quickly as possible to any service interruptions it may cause,” said John O’Connell, PSEG Long Island’s vice president of Transmission and Distribution Operations. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, PSEG Long Island remains committed to providing safe, reliable electric service, strong storm response and excellent customer service.

“We have adapted our storm procedures to follow public health best practices and accommodate for other potential industrywide changes. As they operate under these unusual circumstances to safely restore power as quickly as possible, we thank our customers for their patience and understanding.”

PSEG Long Island reminds customers that its crews are unable to work in bucket trucks to make repairs until the winds return to non-hazardous levels. In addition to its own crews, PSEG Long Island will be able to call upon additional local personnel, including tree and line crews, to repair damage and restore outages as safely and quickly as possible. Traditionally, PSEG Long Island is able to call on mutual aid support from crews in other parts of the country if needed. During the current public health crisis, PSEG Long Island does not expect the same level of mutual aid support will be available to us. While we have adjusted our emergency response plan accordingly, some customers may experience slightly longer outages as a result.

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 “social distancing” and remain at least 6 feet away to ensure the health of everyone involved. For more information about how PSEG Long Island continues to live up to its commitments during the pandemic, please visit www.psegliny.com/covid19.

PSEG Long Island has been working nonstop for the past six years to make the electric infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather. From storm hardening upgrades to ongoing enhanced tree maintenance, the company’s proactive work allows the system to better withstand extreme weather. In recent weeks, PSEG Long Island has increased inspections and tree trimming along electric circuits that serve hospitals and other critical facilities. The electric company has also upgraded the electric service at several local hospitals as they expand to accommodate the higher number of patients.


Stay connected:

• Download the new PSEG Long Island mobile app to report an outages and receive information on restoration times, crew locations and more.
• To report and receive status updates via text, text OUT to PSEGLI (773454) or visit us online at www.psegliny.com/outages
• To report an outage or downed wire call PSEG Long Island’s 24-hour Electric Service number: 800-490-0075 or use our web chat feature at www.psegliny.com
• Follow PSEG Long Island on Facebook and Twitter to report an outage and for updates before, during and after the storm
• Visit PSEG Long Island’s outage information across Long Island and the Rockaways online at https://mypowermap.psegliny.com

# # # 

PSEG Long Island
PSEG Long Island operates the Long Island Power Authority’s transmission and distribution system under a long-term contract. PSEG Long Island is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a publicly traded diversified energy company.