As Brooklyn faces its first major heat wave of the year, Con Edison is asking more than 117,000 customers to reduce electricity usage to prevent further strain on the power grid and allow crews to repair damaged infrastructure.
With a heat index forecast to reach as high as 110 degrees on Tuesday, Con Edison has reduced voltage by 8% in two heavily populated areas of northern and eastern Brooklyn. The voltage reduction is a preventive measure designed to protect the utility’s electrical equipment and maintain service as temperatures soar.
The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for New York City through Wednesday, with high temperatures expected to hover near 100 degrees.
The impacted areas include Bedford-Stuyvesant, Bushwick, Greenpoint, and Williamsburg. One of the zones is roughly bounded by the Brooklyn-Queens border and Newtown Creek to the north, Fulton Street to the south, the borough line to the east, and Graham and Throop avenues to the west.
A second affected region stretches from Fulton Street south to Clarendon Road, and from New York Avenue east to Alabama Avenue.
Con Edison is asking customers in the affected areas to limit use of energy-intensive appliances such as washers, dryers, and microwaves. They are also asking residents to reduce air conditioning usage.
They can do this by using only one unit and setting it to the highest comfortable temperature. If you have an electric vehicle, they are asking you to avoid charging it unless absolutely necessary.
All of these measures are being put in place to alleviate pressure on the system while utility workers carry out repairs to restore full service.
As temperatures climb, Brooklyn residents are turning to cooling centers, beaches, and playground sprinklers to stay cool. If you can, please stay indoors during peak heat hours, city officials warned. They are also asking residents to drink plenty of water and check on your neighbors. This is especially true for your elderly and medically vulnerable neighbors.
Emergency Management is coordinating with Con Edison to monitor the situation and respond as needed.
Con Edison emphasized that the issues are contained to the specific areas under voltage reduction and are not affecting the wider grid. Customers can report outages or check the status of repairs by visiting the Con Edison website, using the Con Edison mobile app or calling 1-800-75-CONED.
As the city continues to sizzle, officials are urging residents to prioritize safety, conserve energy, and remain alert to updates.