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Con Ed urges residents of six Brooklyn neighborhoods to conserve energy

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A Con Edison building.
REUTERS/Eric Thayer

Residents of six Brooklyn neighborhoods — Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Borough Park, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights and Bath Beach — are being asked to reduce their energy consumption as energy giant Con Edison works to complete “necessary repairs” in the area, the company announced Monday.

Con Ed has already reduced voltage in the areas — home to more than 112,000 customers — by 8 percent to better protect the equipment and to keep the lights on while crews make mends.

Brooklynites within these neighborhoods are being asked not to operate appliances that use a high amount of energy such as washers, dryers and microwaves, and to use only one air conditioner set to the highest comfortable temperature. 

The reduction of voltage will also impact Gowanus, Park Slope, Sunset Park, Bay Ridge and Fort Hamilton, but those neighborhoods are not currently being asked to conserve energy. 

Some of the equipment was already being brought back into service as of Monday afternoon, Con Edison said, and the voltage reduction is soon expected to be lowered to 5 percent.

The equipment reparations in these neighborhoods will not impact the rest of the Con Edison power system, according to the utility company, which remains in communication with the city’s  The utility is in communication with New York City Emergency Management.

The reduction in power comes after days of dangerously high heat across the Five Boroughs, and as quick-moving and intense thunderstorms roll through the city.

“We have almost survived our first heatwave of 2022 without a major power outage,” area Councilmember Justin Brannan wrote on social media Monday afternoon. “In order to keep that streak going, ConEd is asking customers in certain areas in Brooklyn to conserve energy while they make emergency repairs underground.”

Customers can report outages and check service restoration status online, via Con Edison’s mobile app, or by calling 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). When calling, customers should report whether their neighbors also have lost power. Customers who report outages will receive updates with their estimated restoration times as they become available.