On July 1, 2026, at approximately 6:30 p.m., power went out in the Eastern Circuit of the Village, which is tied to the Onondaga Circuit. When the first call came in, DMO Posella immediately mobilized the electric crew and continued to manage the operations throughout the night.
Prior to the predicted heat wave, at DMO Posella's direction, the electric crew proactively balanced the system at the substation in an attempt to avoid overloading the grid as it was expected that everyone would be running their air conditioning units.
The issue was predominantly out in the field, with a fuse at the intersection of E. Genesee and E. Lake that failed repeatedly; the amperage was too high for the circuit, with one phase reaching 350 amps.
A significant amount of work was performed by our linemen to reroute load through other areas of the system in an attempt to further stabilize it. They were able to bring the high phase down to 250 amps to restore stability.
The Village is currently working with a vendor to replace the recloser that needs repairs. It is estimated that this will be completed within the next few weeks.
In the meantime, our treatment plant operator and Brillo worked until 1:00 a.m. pumping out the pump station on Lakeview Circle to prevent it from overflowing or backing up.
Our assistant superintendent of public works set up stop signs at the E. Genesee and E. Lake St. intersection, and our Deputy Director of Municipal Operations was on site until 3:00 a.m. to work with the team and help manage the operation.
PEAK ALERT/CONSERVATION REQUEST: What can residents to do lessen the load on the system?
Here are practical steps residents can take to reduce peak demand on the system, especially during heat waves like the one that caused this outage:
Reduce AC strain
- Set thermostats a few degrees higher (78°F is often recommended for savings without major comfort loss)
- Use fans to supplement AC rather than relying on it alone — fans use far less power
- Close blinds/curtains during peak sun hours to reduce cooling load
- Have AC units serviced/cleaned — dirty filters make units work harder
- Avoid setting AC to a much colder temp than needed; it doesn't cool faster, just runs longer
Reduce overall load
- Unplug or turn off unused electronics ("phantom load" from devices left on standby adds up)
- Switch to LED bulbs if not already done
- Use a microwave or outdoor grill instead of an oven during hot afternoons — reduces both electric load and indoor heat gain
- Turn off unnecessary lights during daylight hours