Sep 27, 2026
More than 90% of Customers Restored as Crews Work to Finish Restoration Efforts

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Sept. 27, 2026, [5:30 p.m.] – Central Hudson crews have restored power to more than 24,000 customers who were impacted by the nor’easter that brought powerful wind gusts and heavy rain to the Mid-Hudson Valley on Saturday and Sunday. As of 5:30 p.m., approximately 2,500 customers were without power. Central Hudson expects to restore the majority of those 2,500 customers today, with the remaining customers restored by midday Monday.  

“We’re nearing the completion of our restoration effort, but we know there is still important work ahead for the customers who remain without service,” said Eric Kiszkiel, Senior Vice President of Engineering & Operations. “We appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding as our crews safely complete these remaining repairs. We will continue to work until all of our customers are restored.” 

During severe weather, Central Hudson takes an “all-hands-on-deck” approach. All 1,200 employees work in the field or in support roles to help restore service as safely and quickly as possible. 

Central Hudson prepared for the nor’easter by closely monitoring weather forecasts, readying crews and support staff, stocking supplies and materials, communicating with community leaders, and following its approved storm plan. Before storms, the company works to reduce service interruptions through enhanced vegetation management, dangerous tree removal, and regular maintenance and upgrades to the power lines serving local 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; 
  • 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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