Brownouts Rolling Through Brooklyn

The electricity supply in almost 20 Brooklyn neighborhoods are straining due to the heat, according to a statement made by Con Edison on Wednesday.

ConEd stated they have reduced voltage by five percent in Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Windsor Terrace, Sheepshead Bay, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach, Midwood, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Gravesend, Bensonhurst and Bath Beach due to “problems on electrical equipment.”

The voltage reduction was done as a precaution to protect equipment and maintain service as company crews work to repair the problems.

In Park Slope, ConEd is making robotic calls to alert their customers that they are doing repairs and for people to use the least amount of electricity as possible.

Matt Meeker, who lives on Third Street near Seventh Avenue, said that ConEd called him on Wednesday, as the mercury rose up to 93 degrees.

“‘We are repairing electric systems in your neighborhood,’” Meeker said, quoting the automated message by ConEd. “While we are making repairs we are asking residents to conserve electricity and turn off all non-essential electric equipment." 

Meeker said that power in his apartment is still working, but he turned off all the lights and put his central air to 70 degrees.

However, ConEd suggests that customers do not use appliances such as dishwashers, clothes washers, dryers and even air conditioners.

They also said that you can keep your refrigerator on, but keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed to conserve energy. 

On Twitter, there was chatter about the ConEd "robo calls" and which neighborhoods are being affected:

"NO. ConEd just called and power's out in Park Slope. Worried about my furry friends in the heat. :-/," one tweet read.

Mike, an employee at Mr. Falafel on Seventh Avenue, said that they also received the call from ConEd Wednesday afternoon.

“After we got the message we dimmed the lights and set the air conditioner for 70 degrees,” Mike said.

ConEd said that cutomers may experience dim or flickering lights, what they call “brownouts.” If you have a brownout, ConEd asks that you report it immediately to ConEd at  1-800-752-6633 or visit coned.com.

Samantha Costanzo, who lives on Carroll Street and Seventh Avenue, said that ConEd called her fiancée with the same robotic message. He called her while she was working at Lion in the Sun on Seventh Avenue.

“They told him that we might lose power,” Costanzo said. “But since both of us are not home, everything is off.”

However, when she gets home from work she is planning to stay cool.

“Once I get home I am going to turn my AC on,” Costanzo said, explaining that she will make sure her AC is set to low as a precaution. “Our apartment is the size of a shoe box, but it is too hot not to have the air on.”

ConEd said that they will call their customers when the repairs are completed and when it is safe to use appliances and electricity as usual. If you lose power or have a brownout, call ConEd at  1-800-752-6633 or visit coned.com.

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