POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – July 5, 2026, [12 p.m.] – As of 11 a.m. on Sunday, Central Hudson Gas & Electric crews continue restoration efforts following the severe thunderstorms that swept through the Mid-Hudson Valley on Saturday afternoon and evening. The storm caused extensive damage to the electric system, particularly across the central portion of the utility’s service territory where strong winds brought down trees and large limbs into power lines and other infrastructure.

At the height of the storm, approximately 50,000 customers were without electric service. The most heavily impacted areas include parts of Ulster County, with more than 10,000 customers affected, as well as central and southern Dutchess County, with more than 32,000 customers affected.

Overnight, Central Hudson crews worked to assess damage, clear hazardous conditions, and begin restoration work. Damage assessment and restoration efforts continue across the region. Central Hudson has mobilized line crews, damage assessors, line clearance professionals and support personnel from across its service territory. In addition, mutual aid resources from neighboring utilities and contractor organizations are arriving throughout the day to assist with restoration efforts and accelerate power restoration for affected customers.

Based on current damage assessments, Central Hudson’s estimated time of restoration for the majority of affected customers is 10 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7. Given the extent of the damage in some locations, restoration efforts will continue into Wednesday in the most heavily impacted areas.

“Saturday’s storm caused extensive tree-related damage across the central portion of our service territory, creating a large number of individual repair locations that crews must address before power can be restored,” said Eric Kiszkiel, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Operations. “With additional mutual aid crews arriving throughout the day, we are focused on safely restoring service as quickly as possible while continuing to assess and repair damage. We appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding as this significant restoration effort continues.”

Dry Ice and Bottled Water Distribution

To assist customers who are experiencing extended outages, Central Hudson will provide dry ice and bottled water beginning at 12 noon today at the following locations:

Supplies will be available while quantities last.

Central Hudson prepares for storms by readying crews, stocking supplies and materials, communicating with community leaders and following an approved storm plan. The company also takes proactive steps before storms strike to minimize service interruptions, including enhanced vegetation management and danger tree removals, and regular maintenance and upgrades to power lines serving communities.

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 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.

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Media Contact

Réal Hamilton-Romeo

914 675 1386

media@cenhud.com