Rochester Residents Left in the Dark After Power Plant Malfunction

Rochester Residents Left in the Dark After Power Plant MalfunctionRochester Residents Left in the Dark After Power Plant Malfunction Rochester, NY – A major power outage has left thousands of Rochester residents without electricity after a malfunction at a local power plant. The outage occurred at approximately 6:30 PM on Friday, January 13th. According to Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E), a malfunction at the Russell Station Power Plant caused a complete loss of power to the city’s grid. As of 9:00 PM, over 50,000 customers were still without power. The affected areas include downtown Rochester, the University of Rochester campus, and several surrounding neighborhoods. Emergency crews from RG&E are currently on the scene working to restore power. However, the company has not yet provided an estimated time for restoration. The outage has caused widespread disruptions in the city. Traffic signals are out, businesses have been forced to close, and residents are experiencing difficulties with heat and refrigeration. The Rochester City School District has announced that all schools will be closed on Monday, January 16th, due to the power outage. Rochester General Hospital has also activated its emergency plan and is asking patients to seek care only if they are experiencing a life-threatening condition. Local police and fire departments are urging residents to stay home and avoid driving unless absolutely necessary. They also remind residents to check in on neighbors, especially the elderly and vulnerable, to ensure they are safe and have access to food and water. RG&E has set up several warming centers throughout the city for residents who need a place to stay warm. A list of locations can be found on the company’s website. The cause of the malfunction at the Russell Station Power Plant is still under investigation. RG&E says it will provide updates as they become available.