LIPA Continues Storm-Related Repairs Nor'easter Causes Scattered Outages Islandwide Hicksville, NY - October 25, 2005 -- Approximately 9,000 customers in the Long Island Power Authority's (LIPA) service area are currently without power as a result of the unusually strong Nor'easter impacting the region with rain and high winds predicted to gust to 60 mph. Since midnight, nearly 40,000 electric outages have occurred on Long Island as a result of the storm. Nearly 170 high-voltage service crews, 140 low-voltage service crews, and 100 tree trimmers will be working an extended 16-hour shift through the day and into tonight to make service restorations and systems repairs as quickly as possible. Extra crews will also be working overnight making repairs, and extra crews on extended shifts will work to complete all repairs by tomorrow afternoon. So far, the bulk of the outages occurred between 9:00 and 11:00 AM this morning, when some 17,000 outages occurred. "It's been a difficult two weeks," said LIPA Chairman Richard M. Kessel. "During the week of October 11th through the 17th, the heavy rains and high gusting winds caused nearly 106,000 outages over a 7-day period, with 91% of all customer outages restored within 4 hours of less. "Today's storm has presented some similar challenges with the high winds bringing down tress and tree limbs all over the island, but particularly on the North Shore," said Mr. Kessel. "But, as is custom, the crews will be working long and hard, in some terrible weather conditions, to restore power to LIPA's customers as quickly as possible. "We appreciate their hard work and dedication, and applaud their extraordinary efforts," said Mr. Kessel. To report an outage, LIPA customers should call 1-800-490-0075. To monitor the storm-related outages, go to the Storm Center on LIPA's Be Safe Be Prepared We encourage customers to prepare for the possibility of a power outage by taking these actions now: * Stay away from all downed lines LIPA, a non-profit municipal electric utility, owns the retail electric system on Long Island and provides electric service to nearly 1.1 million customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens. LIPA does not own any electric generation assets on Long Island, and it does not provide natural gas service. ### Contact Information: Press Release 10/25/05 3:25 PM Eastern |
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