Con Edison: Voltage reduction in parts of Westchester no longer in effect
The spokesperson said the reduction ended around 6 a.m. Wednesday.
More Stories
Con Edison announced that the company is no longer reducing voltage in certain parts of Westchester to protect service in the extreme heat.
The spokesperson said the reduction ended around 6 a.m. Wednesday.
The utility company sent a notice Tuesday night that said it was reducing voltage by 8% in certain areas of Westchester as a precaution to protect equipment and maintain service.
Officials estimated on Tuesday that over 40,000 people could be impacted in places such as White Plains, Greenburgh, Scarsdale, Eastchester and Harrison.
Con Edison communications director Jamie McShane used an analogy to help customers understand how voltage reduction works and impacts them.
"If we were to reduce the water pressure in your shower by 5% or 8%, would you notice it? You might notice it slightly. You'd still be able to take a shower, just in the same way we use voltage reduction as a tool to precisely manage the grid," McShane said.
Company officials are still asking customers to conserve energy while the temperatures are hot so service can remain reliable.
Meanwhile, other local utility companies like Orange and Rockland say customers do not need to use less energy at this time.
The company said it invested nearly $300 million this year to make its system more reliable.
Orange and Rockland is still encouraging people to save energy when they can, noting that excessive use of air conditioning can lead to power outages.
"One thing that we do encourage our customers is to definitely follow the energy conservation tips that we supply them," said Vito Signorile of Orange and Rockland. "It will pay dividends. As we hope to get out of this heat wave as soon as possible."
Other tips from the company include running appliances after sunset and keeping shades closed.
