An explosion at a Con Edison power station in Manhattan is adding to New York’s woes after Sandy pounded the city. Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses are without power.
Con Edison’s power plant at 14th Street and the Franklin D Roosevelt East River Drive experienced and explosion at about 8:30 p.m. Monday. The explosion cut power to much of Manhattan from about 39th Street south to the southern tip of Manhattan. The explosion occurred as Con Ed intentionally cut power to about 65,000 customers in order to protect equipment and allow faster power restoration.
Be mindful that downed wires can be hidden by tree limbs, leaves and water.
— Con Edison
Power loss occurred at Con Ed’s Central Command Station at about the same time. Power there has since been restored.
Manhattan has about 21,000 miles of power lines beneath the streets. Con Ed states that most of the below ground equipment is sealed to protect it from flooding.
Sea water, which is salt water, is more damaging to power equipment than fresh water.
Early Tuesday, about 4.1 million customers served by Con Edison, Connecticut Light and Power, JCP&L, LIPA, PSEG, Orange & Rockland, and NYSEG were without power.
Con Edison or Consolidated Edison
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Other views of Con Edison plant explosion and arcing …
Power plant explosion from a greater distance showing an eerie blue glow in the sky.