Thursday, October 1, 2026
PSEG Long Island is encouraging residents to prepare for extreme heat and possible thunderstorms forecast through the end of the workweek.
According to the National Weather Service, hot and humid conditions are expected to push heat index values above 90 degrees beginning Thursday afternoon and continuing through Friday evening. Some areas could experience heat index readings in the mid- to upper 90s. Thunderstorms are also possible Thursday and Friday, with wind gusts reaching up to 55 mph.
The utility said it has sufficient electric capacity to meet anticipated peak demand and has crews and resources positioned to respond to any outages.
"PSEG Long Island prepares year-round for extreme weather like heat and thunderstorms," Michael Sullivan, the utility's vice president of electric operations, said in a news release. "We have been upgrading equipment, carefully planning to provide sufficient electric capacity to meet peak demand, and positioning our personnel to respond effectively if needed. It is also important for our customers to prepare themselves to stay safe in times of high heat."
Residents are urged to stay in air-conditioned spaces when possible, drink plenty of water, avoid strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest hours of the day, wear light-colored clothing, and never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles.
Customers who rely on life-support equipment may enroll in PSEG Long Island's Critical Care Program to receive enhanced communications during severe weather. The utility noted that participants are still responsible for maintaining backup plans in the event of an outage and that enrollment does not guarantee priority restoration.
The company is also encouraging customers to conserve energy during periods of high demand. Recommended measures include setting thermostats to 78 degrees, running major appliances outside peak weekday hours of 3 to 7 p.m., using programmable or smart thermostats, keeping blinds closed on sun-facing windows, charging electric vehicles overnight, and considering energy-efficient upgrades such as air-source heat pumps.
PSEG Long Island warned that periods of extreme heat could sometimes lead to scattered outages due to increased demand on the electric system. Additional personnel will be available to respond if outages occur.
