Brooklyn power outage leaves nearly 2,000 without electricity as snow and salt damage underground equipment
Con Edison customers in Park Slope and Boerum Hill lost power over multiple days as melting snow mixed with road salt damaged underground electrical systems.
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Nearly 2,000 Con Edison customers in Brooklyn's Park Slope and Boerum Hill neighborhoods remained without power Monday as a weather-related outage stretched into its third day, with temperatures dropping into the teens.
The outage began Saturday when manhole fires erupted, according to reports. As of Monday evening, approximately 1,600 to 1,741 customers were still without service in the affected areas, primarily around 3rd and 4th Avenues from Dean to Douglass Streets.
Con Edison attributed the outages to melting snow mixed with road salt seeping into the underground electrical system. The mixture made contact with underground electrical equipment and, in some cases, reached the copper conductor in cables, causing smoking and service loss, a utility spokesman said. The damage knocked out two major power lines feeding the area.
A significant challenge for repair crews was the presence of compacted snow and ice piled on top of manholes that workers needed to access to repair equipment. In some cases, snow-covered cars were parked on top of the access points, further impeding restoration efforts. Con Edison crews worked around the clock in extremely challenging conditions to remove snow, repair damage, and restore service.
The outage created cascading problems throughout the neighborhood. Along Third Avenue, several traffic lights were out, and utility trucks added to traffic congestion. Uncleared snow snarled traffic, numerous side roads were closed for restoration work, and many businesses—including barbershops and bakeries—were forced to shut down. Residents described the neighborhood as practically shut down.
Inside homes without power, conditions became increasingly difficult as temperatures remained well below freezing. Many residents spent multiple nights without heat. Neighbors assisted one another by carrying food upstairs, sharing heaters and blankets, and boiling water for warmth. Some residents with children relocated to hotels. Con Edison said impacted residents may be entitled to reimbursement for spoiled food or medication.
Electricity was partially restored Monday evening, though outages persisted in Park Slope and Boerum Hill as of Monday night. Con Edison continued restoration efforts as the outage extended through the period of historic low temperatures affecting the region.