Con Edison has made significant progress in restoring electricity for over 1,600 customers in Southeast Queens, while continuing efforts to bring service back to more than 6,200 additional customers amid a severe heat wave taxing the city’s power grid.
To enhance reliability during this challenging period, Con Edison has implemented an 8% voltage reduction in the affected area and is urging all customers to conserve energy. This area, which houses approximately 166,000 residents, spans from Grand Central Parkway in the north to Jamaica Bay in the south, and from the Nassau County line in the east to Queens Boulevard and the Van Wyck Expressway in the west, including neighborhoods such as Bellaire, Bellerose, Cambria Heights, Floral Park, Glen Oaks, Hollis, Jamaica, Laurelton, Queens Village, Springfield Gardens, St. Albans, and South Jamaica.
“We’re asking customers to help us maintain system reliability by cutting back on non-essential energy use while our crews make repairs,” a Con Edison spokesperson stated. The expected timeline for full power restoration is around 9 p.m. tonight, although this may adjust based on ongoing conditions in the field.
Residents are advised to refrain from using high-energy appliances such as washers, dryers, and microwaves, and to minimize air conditioning usage by operating only one unit at the highest comfortable setting. Charging electric vehicles should also be postponed unless necessary.
Con Edison reassured the public that the equipment issues affecting Southeast Queens are localized, with no disruptions reported elsewhere in the city. The utility is working closely with New York City Emergency Management to coordinate efforts effectively.
Priority for power restoration is being given to critical infrastructures—such as hospitals, firehouses, and mass transit systems—before addressing outages that impact larger customer groups and individual households.
Customers can report power outages, track restoration progress, and receive updates via Con Edison’s mobile app, online, or by calling their customer service. They are also encouraged to inform whether other neighbors are experiencing outages to help assess the situation.
For safety, Con Edison warns residents to avoid downed power lines, which can be dangerous and may be live. Additionally, the utility has provided crucial safety tips, such as avoiding touching downed wires, not using generators indoors, remaining in vehicles if a power line falls on them, and keeping essential devices charged.
As temperatures continue to rise this summer, Con Edison is emphasizing the need for community cooperation in energy conservation. To help residents cope with the heat, New York City has established cooling centers throughout the five boroughs, with information accessible by calling 311 or visiting the city’s official website.
This incident highlights the resilience of community efforts and collaborative responses during challenging circumstances, fostering a spirit of unity and cooperation among residents in combating the heat wave while ensuring safety and service efficiency.