POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Sept. 2026, [4 p.m.] – Central Hudson crews are working to restore power to more than 19,000 homes and businesses that were impacted by powerful winds and heavy rain from a slow-moving nor’easter. The hardest-hit areas include Woodstock, Shawangunk, Plattekill and Hurley in Ulster County.

“We understand how stressful a power outage can be. A full contingent of line and line-clearance professionals is working to restore power as safely and efficiently as possible,” said Eric Kiszkiel, Senior Vice President of Engineering & Operations. “In addition to our internal crews, we are working to secure additional mutual assistance line workers to help expedite repairs.”

Because of the extent of the storm damage, Central Hudson expects restoration efforts to continue into Sunday. Persistent wind gusts and potentially hazardous conditions could cause additional outages Saturday afternoon and evening.

During severe weather, Central Hudson takes an “all-hands-on-deck” approach, with all 1,200 employees working either in the field or in support roles to help expedite service restoration.

Central Hudson prepared for this nor’easter by closely monitoring weather forecasts, readying crews and support staff, stocking supplies and materials, communicating with community leaders and following an approved storm plan. Before storms strike, the company also works to minimize service interruptions through enhanced vegetation management, danger tree removal, and regular maintenance and upgrades to power lines serving communities.

Residents should use extreme caution around downed power lines, stay at least 30 feet away and remember that lines may be entangled in or hidden by fallen limbs. Always assume any downed power line is live.

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

• Never use kitchen stoves or outdoor gas or charcoal grills indoors. They pose a fire hazard and can produce carbon monoxide;
• Avoid opening the refrigerator unnecessarily during an outage so food stays cold longer. An unopened refrigerator can keep food cold for up to four hours;
• Watch for fallen trees and limbs, and use caution when traveling;
• Use flashlights or battery-powered lights instead of candles, which pose a fire hazard;
• Follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions when using an emergency generator. Operate it outdoors and turn off the main breaker while the generator is in use;
• Never operate cars or other motor vehicles inside a garage; and
• Avoid unnecessary travel. Hazardous road conditions may lead to crashes, including collisions with utility poles that can cause power interruptions.

Customers can report outages and receive restoration updates in the following ways:

• By text message: Enroll in Central Hudson’s Texting Program to report an outage and receive restoration updates. Visit CentralHudson.com/Alerts or text REG to 236483 to enroll;
• Online: Visit CentralHudson.com/Storms to report an outage and receive restoration updates;
• By mobile app: Download the free Central Hudson app for Android or Apple devices at www.cenhud.com/mobileapp;
• Through social media: Like Central Hudson on Facebook (Facebook.com/CentralHudson) and follow the company on X (Twitter.com/CentralHudson); and
• By phone: Call Central Hudson’s PowerLine at (845) 452-2700 or 1-800-527-2714. Use the automated system to report an outage or check restoration status.

If someone in your household relies on electricity to operate life-sustaining equipment, call Customer Service at (845) 452-2700.

For information about storm and emergency preparedness or how to communicate with Central Hudson, visit www.CentralHudson.com. For electric and natural gas safety information, visit 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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