BINGHAMTON — The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) has presented New York State Electric & Gas with its Emergency Response Award for the company’s restoration efforts in response in the 2020 Christmas windstorm.
The storm, which produced heavy rain and wind gusts of over 70 mph, impacted nearly 60,000 NYSEG customers across the state. Despite tough conditions, the company was able to restore approximately 77 percent of impacted customers within a day and restored all customers within 48 hours.
“This award is a recognition of the hard work and dedication of our employees to put customers first,” said Carl Taylor, president and CEO of NYSEG. “Our goal is to restore customers as quickly and safely as possible, and that means continuing work until the last customer is restored.”
The 2020 Christmas windstorm reached NYSEG’s service area late on Christmas Eve, bringing heavy rain and strong winds with gusts reaching more than 70 mph in areas. The severe weather most significantly impacted the company’s Capital Region, Catskill, Hudson Valley and Westchester service footprint. More than 1,220 personnel were enlisted to support restoration efforts across the state, which included replacing approximately 65 broken poles and addressing roughly 300 downed wires.
