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AS THE THAW CONTINUES, NATIONAL GRID REMINDS CUSTOMERS TO USE EXTREME CAUTION AROUND ELECTRICITY SERVICES AS THE THAW CONTINUES, NATIONAL GRID REMINDS CUSTOMERS TO USE EXTREME CAUTION AROUND ELECTRICITY SERVICESNov. 23, 2014 - As today's warmer temperatures help to melt away the snow from last week's storm, the potential for localized flooding increases. National Grid crews, as always, are ready to respond to any damage that may result from flooding, and the company continues to urge customers to use extreme caution around any electricity service that may be at risk. "We're removing snow around our facilities and are closely monitoring substations and other parts of our infrastructure that could be potentially impacted by flooding," said Ken Daly, National Grid's New York president. "We continue to make safety our priority and have been partnering with open Emergency Operations Centers, elected officials and municipal leaders to ensure key safety messages are consistently communicated to our customers." Safety tips for customers who experience flooding include:
  • Stay out of flooded basements or standing water. Energized wiring, outlets and appliances below the water line may pose a hazard.
  • To have electricity service restored once flood waters have receded, contact an electrician to check your home or business to make sure that it is safe to have service energized.
  • If your main fuse box or circuit breaker box has been under water, or if National Grid was directed to shut off your service due to safety-related concerns, you must have the box inspected by a certified electrical inspector before service can be restored.
  • If your appliances have been in contact with water, please contact a qualified contractor to make sure those appliances are safe to operate.
  • If you use a generator to supply power during an outage, be sure to only operate it outdoors. Before operating generators, be sure to disconnect from National Grid's system by shutting off the main breaker located in the electricity service panel. Failure to do this could jeopardize the safety of crews working to restore power.
  • Additional flood safety tips, including roles and responsibilities around restoration after flood and storm damage can be found here.
National Grid also urges customers to be cautious as they work to clear their roofs by following these safety recommendations:
  • Keep all ladders, shovels, roof rakes and other devices well clear of any lines coming from the street to the structure, regardless of material. In extremely wet conditions, even wood can be a conductor of electricity.
  • If necessary, start clearing snow from the opposite end of the roof from the service point where electricity is delivered. This will allow for relief of snow loading.
  • If you are unsure of how to go about clearing snow, or if your roof is particularly steep, contact a qualified roofing contractor.
  • As snow is removed from the roof, be aware of what is below that could become buried as snow hits the ground. Be especially mindful of the location of your electricity and gas meters, as they could be damaged by falling snow and ice.
  • Heavy snow could damage the connections of your electricity service to your building, often known as the weatherhead. As snow melts or is otherwise removed, look at this connection point from a safe distance to be sure it hasn't been pulled away from the building, creating a potential shock and fire hazard.
National Grid contact information for emergencies is:
  • To report electricity outages or downed wires: 1-800-867-5222
  • General questions about safety and service: 1-800-642-4272
  • Call before you dig: dial 811 or 1-800-962-7962
About National GridNational Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE:NGG) is an electricity and gas company that connects consumers to energy sources through its networks. The company is at the heart of one of the greatest challenges facing our society - to create new, sustainable energy solutions for the future and developing an energy system that underpins economic prosperity in the 21st century. National Grid holds a vital position at the center of the energy system and it 'joins everything up'. In the northeast US, we connect more than seven million gas and electric customers to vital energy sources, essential for our modern lifestyles. In Great Britain, we run the gas and electricity systems that our society is built on, delivering gas and electricity across the country.  National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. For more information please visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com, watch us on YouTube
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