Con Ed Might Cut Power To Some Customers In Lower Manhattan

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Con Edison said that is considering cutting power to about 6,500 customers in Lower Manhattan if the surge from the Hurricane Sandy is severe enough to threaten underground lines.

Manhattan alone has some 21,000 miles of power lines beneath its streets and Con Ed has said most of the below ground equipment is sealed to protect it from flooding.

Still, the utility said the power may be cut as saltwater is more damaging to equipment if power is on.

On Saturday, Con Ed said it will dispatch extra crews to respond to any problems with electrical, gas or steam service. The company will have crews working around the clock to resolve power, bolstered by 500 outside utility contractors.

Con Ed emphasized that anyone who sees downed electrical wires must stay away and treat them as if they are live. Downed wires should be reported to Con Ed and the local police department right away.

During an outage, customers should turn off all lights and appliances to prevent circuit overload when power is restored. Any flashlights or battery-operated radios should be checked to make sure they are still working.

Anyone who wishes to report downed power lines or outages, or to check service restoration status, can go to ConEd.com or call (800) 75-CONED.

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