Thousands of residents in Rensselaer and Washington Counties were left without electricity on Friday morning, August 7, 2026. The outage, which appeared on National Grid’s service map, spread across both counties and affected homes, businesses and transportation hubs.
The disruption began early in the morning, catching commuters and tourists as they prepared for the day’s activities. Without power, traffic signals in several towns went dark, creating delays for drivers heading to work or heading toward local attractions. Hotels and restaurants that rely on electricity reported difficulties in serving guests, while retail stores faced interruptions to point‑of‑sale systems.
Local businesses described the outage as a significant impediment to normal operations. Many small enterprises that depend on refrigeration, lighting and computer networks were forced to pause service until power could be restored. The loss of electricity also impacted residents’ daily routines, from cooking and heating to charging devices and accessing the internet.
National Grid confirmed that the outage was regional in scope and appeared on its online service map as it worked to identify the cause and restore service. Utility crews were dispatched across the affected area, and updates were posted throughout the day. While officials did not provide a specific timeline for full restoration, they indicated that efforts were ongoing to bring power back to all customers as quickly and safely as possible.