POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – July 7, 2026, [ 5:30 p.m.] – Central Hudson Gas & Electric crews remain focused on restoring power to the remaining pockets of customers who were impacted by the widespread damage caused by severe thunderstorms on Independence Day. As of 5:30 p.m., more than 53,000, or more than 95 percent of customers, have been restored with approximately 2,400 customers without power. The majority of remaining outages are located in Dutchess County.  

“Our crews continue to make strong progress as we work to restore power to some of the hardest hit areas from these storms,” said Eric Kiszkiel, Senior Vice President of Engineering & Operations. “We understand the impacts extended outages can have on our neighbors. We want you to know we are committed to working throughout the night to get your lights back on and we thank you for your patience as we complete repairs.” 

Central Hudson updates its Outage Map with restoration times on specific outages as that information becomes available. Visit outagemap.cenhud.com to get the latest information.  

Central Hudson distributed more than 36,500 pounds of dry ice and 35 pallets of bottled water to customers impacted by outages.  

Residents are advised to exercise an abundance of caution around downed power lines by staying at least 30 feet away and remember that downed lines can become entangled and hidden in fallen limbs. They should also remember to assume that any downed power lines are live. 

Customers are advised to keep safety in mind, particularly during power interruptions: 

• Never use kitchen stoves or outdoor gas or charcoal grills indoors, as they pose a fire hazard and over time can give off carbon monoxide gas; 

• Avoid opening a refrigerator unnecessarily during outages, so that food lasts longer; an unopened refrigerator can keep food fresh for up to 4 hours; 

• Beware of fallen trees and limbs, and use caution when traveling; 

• Avoid the use of candles for illumination due to fire hazards; 

• Follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions on the use of emergency generators, and be sure to shut off the main breaker when in use and operate the units outdoors; 

• Operate cars and motor vehicles outdoors only, and never inside the garage; and 

• Avoid travel along roadways as hazardous conditions may cause driving accidents, including those involving utility poles which may cause power interruptions. 

Customers can stay informed of storm and restoration conditions in the following ways: 

• By text messaging: Customers should enroll in Central Hudson’s Texting Program to use text messaging to report their power condition and to obtain repair status. To enroll, visit CentralHudson.com/Alerts or text REG to 236483; 

• On the Web: Visit www.CentralHudson.com/Storms to report outages and obtain restoration updates; 

• Via smart phones: Updated free Central Hudson mobile applications are available for Android and Apple devices by logging onto www.cenhud.com/mobileapp; 

• Through social media: “Like” Central Hudson on Facebook (Facebook.com/CentralHudson) and “Follow” on X (formerly known as Twitter) (Twitter.com/CentralHudson); and 

• By phone: Call the Central Hudson PowerLine at (845) 452-2700 or 1-800-527-2714, and please use the automated system to report or monitor your power condition. 

• If a member of your household needs electricity to operate life sustaining equipment, please contact customer service at (845) 452-2700. 

More information on preparing for storms and emergencies and communicating with Central Hudson is available at www.CentralHudson.com; for information regarding electric and natural gas safety, visit http://www.CentralHudson.com/Safety. 

ABOUT CENTRAL HUDSON 

Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., is an energy delivery company headquartered in Poughkeepsie, New York. The utility serves approximately 315,000 electric and 90,000 natural gas customers in eight counties of New York State’s Mid-Hudson River Valley, delivering natural gas and electricity in a 2,600-square-mile service territory that extends north from the suburbs of metropolitan New York City to the Capital District around Albany. Central Hudson supports local community service and business organizations, and offers value-added products and services, including energy efficiency and economic development programs. For more information, visit www.CentralHudson.com. Join the conversation on Facebook, keep up with our adventures on Instagram, learn about our achievements on LinkedIn, and follow us on X. 

# # #