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| Power Outages Hit Manhattan and Queens as Utilities Face Storm Damage | Power Outages Hit Manhattan and Queens as Utilities Face Storm Damage |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Three days after a huge tropical storm swept through the New York City region and left more than a million people without power, much of Upper Manhattan was briefly plunged into darkness early Friday morning during a blackout. | Three days after a huge tropical storm swept through the New York City region and left more than a million people without power, much of Upper Manhattan was briefly plunged into darkness early Friday morning during a blackout. |
| The outage lasted for less than an hour but still left tens of thousands of Con Edison customers without electricity, furthering worries about the integrity of the region's power grid that were raised by the damage caused by Tropical Storm Isaias earlier this week. | The outage lasted for less than an hour but still left tens of thousands of Con Edison customers without electricity, furthering worries about the integrity of the region's power grid that were raised by the damage caused by Tropical Storm Isaias earlier this week. |
| Nearly an hour later, Con Edison reported a separate outage in Queens, the borough hardest hit with storm-related blackouts. | Nearly an hour later, Con Edison reported a separate outage in Queens, the borough hardest hit with storm-related blackouts. |
| The lack of power has exacerbated the distress brought by the coronavirus pandemic — particularly in the city’s suburbs, which were hit harder by the storm. | The lack of power has exacerbated the distress brought by the coronavirus pandemic — particularly in the city’s suburbs, which were hit harder by the storm. |
| Many in the region who have been forced to remain at home are still without the phone or internet service necessary to work remotely, or air-conditioning that can bring relief in a humid New York summer. | Many in the region who have been forced to remain at home are still without the phone or internet service necessary to work remotely, or air-conditioning that can bring relief in a humid New York summer. |
| “I really wish Con Ed would get the memo that they have to be clearer in their game plan for New Yorkers,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference on Friday. “People are depending on this power.” | “I really wish Con Ed would get the memo that they have to be clearer in their game plan for New Yorkers,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference on Friday. “People are depending on this power.” |
| As of Friday afternoon, more than a million customers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut remained without electricity. Only about 52,000 of them were in New York City. | As of Friday afternoon, more than a million customers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut remained without electricity. Only about 52,000 of them were in New York City. |
| Connecticut was particularly hard hit. Nearly 400,000 customers of the state’s main electric supplier, Eversource, still did not have power, and the company has said its repairs would likely not be compete until Tuesday. | |
| Friday’s outage in Manhattan began around 5:15 a.m., affecting about 180,000 businesses and homes in the Upper West Side, Upper East Side and Harlem, according to Con Edison. Photos and videos posted on social media showed complete darkness stretching for blocks. | Friday’s outage in Manhattan began around 5:15 a.m., affecting about 180,000 businesses and homes in the Upper West Side, Upper East Side and Harlem, according to Con Edison. Photos and videos posted on social media showed complete darkness stretching for blocks. |
| The utility said that it was investigating “a problem on our transmission system” that caused three power networks in Manhattan to “lose their electric supply.” Service had been restored by 6:45 a.m. | The utility said that it was investigating “a problem on our transmission system” that caused three power networks in Manhattan to “lose their electric supply.” Service had been restored by 6:45 a.m. |
| As of 6 a.m., more than 130,000 customers were without service in Manhattan, according to Con Edison’s outage map. An hour later, as the utility worked to restore service, that number had dropped to around 500. | As of 6 a.m., more than 130,000 customers were without service in Manhattan, according to Con Edison’s outage map. An hour later, as the utility worked to restore service, that number had dropped to around 500. |
| In the Queens outage, more than 5,000 customers were without power in the mostly residential Middle Village neighborhood. A Con Edison spokesman said that outage was still being investigated and that it had been mostly resolved. | In the Queens outage, more than 5,000 customers were without power in the mostly residential Middle Village neighborhood. A Con Edison spokesman said that outage was still being investigated and that it had been mostly resolved. |
| But Richard Nadler, 88, was still without power as of Friday afternoon. His daughter, Evelyn Stidolph, said that Con Edison did not expect Mr. Nadler’s power to return until Saturday night. | But Richard Nadler, 88, was still without power as of Friday afternoon. His daughter, Evelyn Stidolph, said that Con Edison did not expect Mr. Nadler’s power to return until Saturday night. |
| “He is not happy,” Ms. Stidolph, 54, said of her father, who lives alone. | “He is not happy,” Ms. Stidolph, 54, said of her father, who lives alone. |
| Mr. Nadler previously lost electricity on Tuesday afternoon; his service was restored almost 24 hours later. | Mr. Nadler previously lost electricity on Tuesday afternoon; his service was restored almost 24 hours later. |
| Having a second outage within three days meant Mr. Nadler was again facing concerns over the loss of his refrigerator, where he stores insulin required for his diabetes, and the chairlift he needs to move between the floors of his home. | Having a second outage within three days meant Mr. Nadler was again facing concerns over the loss of his refrigerator, where he stores insulin required for his diabetes, and the chairlift he needs to move between the floors of his home. |
| Still, Ms. Stidolph, who lives a mile away and did not lose power, said her father was fortunate compared with some of his immediate neighbors. | Still, Ms. Stidolph, who lives a mile away and did not lose power, said her father was fortunate compared with some of his immediate neighbors. |
| “I feel bad for the block because there are so many elderly here and they live alone,” she said. “They have home aides come in for a few hours, and that’s it.” | “I feel bad for the block because there are so many elderly here and they live alone,” she said. “They have home aides come in for a few hours, and that’s it.” |
| Even as the outage on Friday morning was resolved, much of Queens remained without power — more than 28,000 customers, which accounts for more than half of the city’s outages. | Even as the outage on Friday morning was resolved, much of Queens remained without power — more than 28,000 customers, which accounts for more than half of the city’s outages. |
| Across the region, utility companies have said that some businesses and homes could be in the dark into next week, as part of what is emerging as the worst natural disaster to hit the area since Hurricane Sandy in 2012. | Across the region, utility companies have said that some businesses and homes could be in the dark into next week, as part of what is emerging as the worst natural disaster to hit the area since Hurricane Sandy in 2012. |
| After the storm, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York called for an investigation into the state’s utilities, accusing them of not adequately preparing. | After the storm, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York called for an investigation into the state’s utilities, accusing them of not adequately preparing. |
| “We don’t contract for sunny day service,” Mr. Cuomo said on Thursday. “We contract for every day service.” | “We don’t contract for sunny day service,” Mr. Cuomo said on Thursday. “We contract for every day service.” |
| The governor has often criticized utilities over power outages following storms or unexpected blackouts — including in July 2019, when an equipment failure at a Con Edison substation caused an hourslong blackout on Manhattan’s West Side. | The governor has often criticized utilities over power outages following storms or unexpected blackouts — including in July 2019, when an equipment failure at a Con Edison substation caused an hourslong blackout on Manhattan’s West Side. |
| Con Edison estimated that it would not fully restore service disrupted by the storm until Sunday evening — a timeline that several city politicians, including Mr. de Blasio, called unacceptable. | Con Edison estimated that it would not fully restore service disrupted by the storm until Sunday evening — a timeline that several city politicians, including Mr. de Blasio, called unacceptable. |
| A spokesman for Con Edison said that the utility had not yet identified the causes of either of Friday morning’s outages, but it did not believe they were connected to any lingering effects from the tropical storm. | A spokesman for Con Edison said that the utility had not yet identified the causes of either of Friday morning’s outages, but it did not believe they were connected to any lingering effects from the tropical storm. |
| Mr. de Blasio said that the outage in Manhattan appeared to be “weather-related” but did not provide more details. | Mr. de Blasio said that the outage in Manhattan appeared to be “weather-related” but did not provide more details. |
| The outages briefly halted service on several subway lines — the 1, 2, 3, A, B, C, D, E, F, N, Q, R and W trains — and brought delays to the Metro-North Railroad. | The outages briefly halted service on several subway lines — the 1, 2, 3, A, B, C, D, E, F, N, Q, R and W trains — and brought delays to the Metro-North Railroad. |
| Sean Piccoli contributed reporting. | Sean Piccoli contributed reporting. |