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Utility Companies

New Measure Backed By Yonkers Lawmaker Forces NY Companies To Prioritize Fixing Downed Wires New Measure Backed By Yonkers Lawmaker Forces NY Companies To Prioritize Fixing Downed Wires
New Measure Backed By Yonkers Lawmaker Forces NY Companies To Prioritize Fixing Downed Wires A new law signed by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul will force utility companies in the state to quickly respond to downed wires reported by members of the public.  The legislation, which was announced on Wednesday, Nov. 22, will protect residents during storms by requiring utility companies to respond to reports of downed wires no later than 72 hours after the response to the emergency event ends, according to Hochul.  Before the new law was signed, power companies were only required to have a plan to secure a wire on a schedule if it was reported by a municipal emergency official.&nb…
Don't Fall For It: Police In Rensselaer County Warn Of Scammers Posing As Utility Companies Don't Fall For It: Police In Rensselaer County Warn Of Scammers Posing As Utility Companies
Don't Fall For It: Police In Rensselaer County Warn Of Scammers Posing As Utility Companies Be wary of phone calls from utility companies in the region claiming that you owe money. That’s the warning from the North Greenbush Police Department in Rensselaer County, which has seen an uptick in phone calls claiming to be from cable, phone, and other utility companies claiming that a bill has not been paid or is late, police said. The caller then threatens to disconnect service unless the customer pays over the phone using a credit card. Victims are asked to verify their account and bank information, along with other sensitive data. With that information in hand, scammers are free to…
Storm System Knocks Out Power In Hudson Valley Storm System Knocks Out Power In Hudson Valley
Storm System Knocks Out Power In Hudson Valley Thousands in the Hudson Valley are without power following a fast-moving wind and rain storm that toppled trees, wires, and poles across the region. As of around 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 18 outages in the Hudson Valley were being reported by these utility companies: Central Hudson: 101 active outages affecting 4,955 customers Ulster County: 3,709; Sullivan County: 289; Dutchess County: 180; Orange County: 120; Putnam County: 8. Con Edison is reporting 15 active outages impacting 236 of the company’s 360,045 Westchester customers NYSEG is reporting 3,766 customers without power Sulliva…
Eversource Fined $29 Million For Isaias Response Eversource Fined $29 Million For Isaias Response
Eversource Fined $29 Million For Isaias Response Eversource is among the latest utility company to face millions in fines for its response during and after Tropical Storm Isaias. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) imposed a $29 million penalty against Eversource for what the company described as failures during the storm. Related story - NY Utility Companies Agree To Pay $86M In Settlements For Failed Isaias Response The fine comes the same week as four major utility companies in neighboring New York were hit with more than $86 million in fines for their response to Isaias. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, who…
COVID-19: Beware Of These Five New Scammer Tactics, Utility Companies Warn COVID-19: Beware Of These Five New Scammer Tactics, Utility Companies Warn
Covid-19: Beware Of These Five New Scammer Tactics, Utility Companies Warn With the United States crossing a grim milestone as the COVID-19 death toll topped 500,000, utility companies are cautioning about new scams that have arisen in the past year as opportunistic fraudsters look to take advantage of the pandemic. Utility companies across the country have issued alerts regarding new scams as they seek to allow their customers to protect themselves from scammers exploiting the COVID-19 outbreak. According to officials, one of the largest threats involves scammers aggressively threatening to disconnect service, claiming that bills are past due, unless a payment is…
Fair Lawn PD Says String Wasn’t A Noose, 'Not A Deliberate Act' Fair Lawn PD Says String Wasn’t A Noose, 'Not A Deliberate Act'
Fair Lawn PD Says String Wasn’t A Noose, 'Not A Deliberate Act' UPDATE: Following a lengthy investigation, Fair Lawn police said Tuesday that a length of string found tied to a tree that took a disturbing shape this past weekend wasn't a noose but, rather, was an item used by contractors. "The rope in question was closer in size to twine (thinner than a shoe lace) that is regularly used by utility companies to either tie cables together or to pull new cables from pole to pole," Sgt. Brian Metzler said. "It appears that the twine, found tied to the tree, had been attached to twine found in the overhead cables," Metzler said. "It appeared that the porti…
Homeowner: Fair Lawn String Wasn’t A Noose Homeowner: Fair Lawn String Wasn’t A Noose
Homeowner: Fair Lawn String Wasn’t A Noose UPDATE: The Fair Lawn woman who found a piece of string in a disturbing shape outside her home said it belonged to a utility company and wasn’t a noose. Police and firefighters “were able to locate a piece of string in the utility wires that matched [it],” Kelli McCloud’s said Monday. “Apparently, some moron with a utility company did it and failed to remove the rope." Authorities were still trying to determine exactly who that was and what company the person works for. A former Optimum executive told Daily Voice that telecommunication companies "use that kind of rope to pull the new fibe…
Fair Lawn Mayor Insists Twisted Twine Tied To Tree Is A Noose Fair Lawn Mayor Insists Twisted Twine Tied To Tree Is A Noose
Fair Lawn Mayor Insists Twisted Twine Tied To Tree Is A Noose UPDATE: The Fair Lawn woman who found a piece of string in a disturbing shape outside her home said it belonged to a utility company and wasn’t a noose. Police and firefighters “were able to locate a piece of string in the utility wires that matched [it],” Kelli McCloud’s said Monday. “Apparently, some moron with a utility company did it and failed to remove the rope." Authorities were still trying to determine exactly who that was and what company the person works for. A former Optimum executive told Daily Voice that telecommunication companies "use that kind of rope to pull the new fiber…
Police Say Twine Tied To Tree In Fair Lawn Doesn't Appear Suspicious, Mayor Not Buying It Police Say Twine Tied To Tree In Fair Lawn Doesn't Appear Suspicious, Mayor Not Buying It
Police Say Twine Tied To Tree In Fair Lawn Doesn't Appear Suspicious, Mayor Not Buying It A length of string with a loop found tied to a tree in Fair Lawn apparently was used by a utility company and doesn't appear to be a noose, as some had suspected, police said. "At this point, we do not believe this is a hate crime but a rope that was put up by a utility company (Verizon, Optimum, etc.) to help with utility wires that had been down in the area," Sgt. Brian Metzler said Sunday afternoon.  "We have calls in with the utility companies and are awaiting responses," Metzler said. "This will be referred to our detective bureau either way." Resident Kelli McCloud of the borough's …
Bill Targeting Utility Companies Over Storm Response Unveiled By Cuomo, Lawmakers Bill Targeting Utility Companies Over Storm Response Unveiled By Cuomo, Lawmakers
Bill Targeting Utility Companies Over Storm Response Unveiled By Cuomo, Lawmakers New legislation has been proposed in New York that would allow lawmakers to hold utility companies more accountable for their failed responses to storm events. Gov. Andrew Cuomo introduced a new, widely supported bill that will strengthen the state’s enforcement tools following repeated widespread failures to adequately prepare or respond to storms in recent years. If passed by the Legislature, the new law would increase penalties on shareholders for failing to adhere to emergency response plans and other violations of the Public Service Law (PSL), regulations, or orders of the Public Servi…
Isaias: Cuomo Proposes New Penalties For Utility Companies' Response To Storm Isaias: Cuomo Proposes New Penalties For Utility Companies' Response To Storm
Isaias: Cuomo Proposes New Penalties For Utility Companies' Response To Storm New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a scathing indictment to the state’s utility companies for their muted response to Tropical Storm Isaias, which left some without power for more than a week. During a briefing on Monday, Aug. 24, Cuomo announced he plans to propose legislation that will increase penalties for utility companies when they fail to properly plan and respond to a storm. Cuomo also said that some franchises could ultimately be fired if they don’t make the necessary changes before future storms strike. “The utility company responses were unacceptable following the recent tropica…
Isaias: Hudson Valley Utility Companies, Altice Face Penalties For Planning, Response Isaias: Hudson Valley Utility Companies, Altice Face Penalties For Planning, Response
Isaias: Hudson Valley Utility Companies, Altice Face Penalties For Planning, Response Utility companies in the Hudson Valley are under scrutiny from top state officials for their response to Tropical Storm Isaias. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday, Aug. 19 that the state’s Department of Public Service has completed the first phase of its investigation into the utility preparation and restoration efforts in the wake of the wreckage caused by Isaias. Cuomo said that the Department has sent Notice of Apparent Violation letters to Con Edison, Orange & Rockland Utilities, and Altice-owned Optimum, who all now face steep penalties. The department has threatene…
Isaias: CT Residents Warned Of Storm-Related Repair Scams Isaias: CT Residents Warned Of Storm-Related Repair Scams
Isaias: CT Residents Warned Of Storm-Related Repair Scams Connecticut residents have been cautioned to be wary of opportunistic fraudsters taking advantage in the wake of Tropical Storm Isaias. State Attorney General William Tong issued an alert this week warning that residents should be aware of tree removal, power restoration, or other repair scams in areas still without power or where heavy damage resulted from the storm. Tong said that after past significant storms and weather events, Connecticut residents have reported individuals, some claiming to work for utility companies, going door to door offering to reconnect electric power, repair ro…
Isaias: 'Your Franchise Can Be Revoked, I Am Not Bluffing,' Cuomo Warns Utility Companies Isaias: 'Your Franchise Can Be Revoked, I Am Not Bluffing,' Cuomo Warns Utility Companies
Isaias: 'Your Franchise Can Be Revoked, I Am Not Bluffing,' Cuomo Warns Utility Companies Gov. Andrew Cuomo is threatening to pull the plug on some of the state’s utility companies as thousands remain without power in New York nearly a week after Tropical Storm Isaias ran roughshod over the East Coast. On Monday, Aug. 10, six days after the storm struck, Cuomo called out the utility companies for their lack of preparedness for another storm, nearly a decade after Hurricane Sandy devastated New York. Cuomo said that he’s spoken to the utility companies numerous times, and that they are failing to provide an essential service to their customers, specifically naming Con Edison and …
Storm Preparedness Steps: Utility Companies Announce Measures Storm Preparedness Steps: Utility Companies Announce Measures
Storm Preparedness Steps: Utility Companies Announce Measures With temperatures dropping and the heart of winter fast approaching, Hudson Valley utility companies are ramping up their storm preparedness efforts. After being caught off-guard by a massive storm last month that left the region reeling, area utility companies have released winter storm preparation messages to their customers. Con Edison is unveiling a new texting program for customers this year. The new system will allow Con Ed to send weather warning and preparation information before a storm arrives, system safety updates and estimated time of power restoration. Outages can also be repo…
Pivotal Murphy, Harckham State Senate Battle Gets Heated Pivotal Murphy, Harckham State Senate Battle Gets Heated
Pivotal Murphy, Harckham State Senate Battle Gets Heated The 40th Senate District, which includes parts of Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties is considered one of eight "battleground" elections that could tip the balance of political power in Albany. On Tuesday, Nov. 6 voters can choose between incumbent Republican Sen. Terrence Murphy and Democrat Peter Harckham. Murphy of Yorktown was elected to the state Senate in 2014, and is completing his second two-year term.  Harckham of South Salem, a former Westchester County legislator, defeated Robert Kesten in the Sept. 13 Democratic Party primary election. Kesten said he supports Harckh…
County Leaders Promise Action Against Utility Companies After Power Outages County Leaders Promise Action Against Utility Companies After Power Outages
County Leaders Promise Action Against Utility Companies After Power Outages Westchester County Executive George Latimer and state Assemblyman David Buchwald pledged during a Monday news conference to pressure the region's utility companies to enhance their ability to restore electricity after storms. Latimer and Buchwald, D-White Plains. hosted a meeting at the County Center on Friday that attracted about 70 leaders to forge a unified response to the extended power outages the county experienced after four major winter storms in March. The meeting culminated with a plan to collect and compile feedback from the municipalities and government offices to evaluate speci…
Daily Voice Readers' Photos Of Biggest Storm Of Winter: Part 2 Daily Voice Readers' Photos Of Biggest Storm Of Winter: Part 2
Daily Voice Readers' Photos Of Biggest Storm Of Winter: Part 2 How Much Snow Did You Get? A Look At Totals From The Area New Nor'easter Possible Next Week: Here Are Two Scenarios The response has been so overwhelmingly positive that Daily Voice is posting a second round of winter storm photographs after the back-to-back Nor'easters. And we have even more to post ASAP. Daily Voice readers rallied during our second brutal Nor'easter in a week to send some photos -- mostly pretty -- of the storm.  If you are still without power, or frustrated with the utility companies' delayed response, we also welcome photos of their recovery efforts.  If your childre…
Picture This: Daily Voice Readers' Photos Of Biggest Storm Of Winter Picture This: Daily Voice Readers' Photos Of Biggest Storm Of Winter
Picture This: Daily Voice Readers' Photos Of Biggest Storm Of Winter How Much Snow Did You Get? A Look At Totals From The Area New Nor'easter Possible Next Week: Here Are Two Scenarios While the weather outside is frightful, this storm can be exhilarating, too, right? Daily Voice readers rallied during our second brutal Nor'easter in a week to send some photos -- mostly pretty -- of the storm.  If you are still without power, or frustrated with the utility companies' delayed response, we also welcome photos of their recovery efforts.  If your children are having fun outdoors, or you spot a beautiful (or even scary) winter scene, please share it with Daily …