Avangrid Utility Companies Strengthen Coordination and Customer Support Ahead of 2025–2026 Winter Storm Season
Avangrid, Inc., a leading U.S. energy company and a member of the Iberdrola Group, has announced that its regulated utility companies have completed extensive preparations for the upcoming 2025–2026 winter storm season. The coordinated readiness efforts span Avangrid’s electric and gas utilities across New York and New England, including New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG), Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E), Central Maine Power (CMP), and United Illuminating (UI).
The preparation program reflects Avangrid’s ongoing commitment to operational resilience, public safety, and reliable service during periods of extreme winter weather. In addition to reinforcing emergency response capabilities, the company and its utilities are proactively engaging customers with safety guidance, energy-efficiency tools, and financial assistance resources designed to help households remain safe, warm, and in control of their energy costs throughout the winter months.
“Preparing for winter storms and severe weather is at the very core of our mission and commitment to our customers,” said Avangrid Chief Executive Officer Jose Antonio Miranda. “By strengthening coordination with emergency management agencies and expanding outreach of programs that help customers manage energy costs and understand safety protocols, we are reinforcing our commitment to safety, resilience, and reliable service for the communities we serve.”
Comprehensive Emergency Response Training and Coordination
As part of their seasonal readiness, each Avangrid utility has completed its annual emergency response training, a cornerstone of the company’s winter preparedness strategy. These sessions are designed to review winter storm protocols, reinforce best practices, and ensure that employees and contractors are fully prepared to respond to snowstorms, ice events, high winds, and extreme cold conditions that can impact electric and gas systems.
The training programs also emphasize coordination across operating companies and regions, allowing Avangrid to deploy personnel, equipment, and resources efficiently when severe weather affects multiple service territories. Utility teams routinely conduct scenario planning exercises to test storm response procedures, communication workflows, and restoration strategies under realistic conditions.
Equally important is the close collaboration with state, county, and local emergency management agencies. Avangrid’s utilities work hand in hand with public officials, first responders, and emergency operations centers to ensure that storm response efforts are aligned with broader community needs. This coordination enhances situational awareness, supports public safety priorities, and helps reduce restoration times when outages occur.
Strengthening Communications During Major Weather Events
Recognizing that clear and timely communication is essential during severe weather, Avangrid has also invested in specialized training for its corporate communications professionals. Members of the Corporate Communications team recently completed Incident Command System (ICS) Public Information Officer training conducted by Utility Response Training Associates.
This advanced training equips communications teams with the skills and frameworks needed to operate effectively within emergency management structures during major incidents. By aligning utility communications with the ICS model, Avangrid ensures that information shared with customers, regulators, media, and community leaders is accurate, coordinated, and delivered at the right time.
During winter storms, customers rely heavily on updates related to outages, restoration timelines, safety instructions, and available support services. Enhanced communications capabilities allow Avangrid’s utilities to provide consistent messaging across digital platforms, call centers, text alerts, and social media, helping customers make informed decisions when conditions are most challenging.
Customer Tools to Manage Energy Use and Costs
In parallel with operational readiness, Avangrid’s utilities continue to prioritize customer affordability and energy management, particularly during winter months when heating costs can place added strain on household budgets. Each operating company offers a range of tools and programs designed to help customers better understand their energy usage, reduce consumption, and access financial assistance when needed.
Available resources include free or low-cost energy efficiency assessments, online bill trackers and energy analyzers, and personalized insights into consumption patterns. These tools empower customers to identify opportunities to lower energy use, improve home efficiency, and avoid unexpected bill increases during periods of peak demand.
For customers facing financial hardship, Avangrid’s utilities also provide access to payment assistance programs, budget billing options, and partnerships with state and federal assistance initiatives. Utility representatives actively educate customers about these programs through outreach campaigns, digital communications, and customer service interactions, ensuring support is available to those who need it most.
Ongoing Commitment to Safety and Community Protection
Customer and employee safety remains a central focus of Avangrid’s winter storm strategy. Utilities consistently communicate winter safety reminders, including guidance on avoiding downed power lines, using generators safely, preventing carbon monoxide exposure, and preparing homes for extreme cold.
Through regular updates and educational outreach, Avangrid reinforces best practices that help reduce risks during storms and power outages. These efforts are complemented by internal safety protocols that protect utility crews working in hazardous weather conditions, ensuring that restoration work is conducted efficiently and responsibly.
Long-Term Infrastructure Investment Supports Resilience
Avangrid’s winter preparedness efforts are part of a broader, long-term strategy to modernize and strengthen energy infrastructure across its service territories. In September, the company announced plans to invest $18.5 billion in the United States through 2028, with the majority of funding directed toward electric grid and gas infrastructure improvements.
The investment plan, unveiled during Iberdrola’s Capital Markets Day on September 24, 2025, underscores Avangrid’s commitment to rebuilding and reinforcing its networks to better withstand extreme weather and growing demand. Planned upgrades include grid hardening projects, advanced monitoring technologies, system automation, and enhanced gas infrastructure safety measures.
These investments are expected to improve reliability, reduce outage frequency and duration, and enhance the overall resilience of energy systems serving more than 3.4 million customers across New York and New England.
Preparing Today for Tomorrow’s Challenges
As climate-driven weather volatility continues to increase, Avangrid’s coordinated approach to winter storm readiness reflects the evolving role of utilities in safeguarding communities. By combining rigorous operational planning, employee training, customer engagement, and long-term infrastructure investment, the company aims to deliver dependable energy service even under the most challenging conditions.
With winter approaching, Avangrid and its utility companies reaffirm their commitment to preparedness, safety, and customer support—ensuring they are ready not only to respond to storms, but to help the communities they serve weather them with confidence.
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