A severe heat wave has prompted Con Edison to shut off power to 10,000 customers in Queens, New York, as temperatures soared over 100 degrees on Friday. This move comes after a call to action from local officials, urging residents to raise their thermostats to 78 degrees to alleviate strain on the energy grid. The affected areas include Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, and South Ozone Park. The power outage is a result of soaring power demand, which has put a significant strain on the energy grid.
In addition to the power outage, Con Edison has also cut voltage by 8% across parts of the Bronx, Westchester, Queens, and Brooklyn. Nearly 500,000 customers are being urged to reduce their electricity use while crews make repairs to the affected areas. The neighborhoods impacted by the voltage reduction include Yonkers, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, and several others in the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn. Residents are being asked to limit their energy consumption to prevent further disruptions to the power supply.
On Thursday, Con Edison had asked customers in Brooklyn and Queens to conserve energy, requesting that they avoid using energy-intensive appliances such as washers, dryers, and microwaves. The company also asked customers to limit their use of air conditioning, suggesting that they use only one air conditioner and set it to the highest comfortable temperature. Furthermore, customers were advised not to charge their electric vehicles to help reduce the strain on the energy grid.
The equipment problems that led to the power outage and voltage reduction are localized to specific neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens. Con Edison has assured that the issues do not affect the rest of its system, and crews are working to complete repairs as soon as possible. In the meantime, residents are being asked to take steps to reduce their energy consumption and help prevent further disruptions to the power supply.
