On the morning of December 5, 2025, a significant power outage disrupted the routine of 18,000 customers in Fairport, NY. The outage, caused by an issue with a transmission line operated by National Grid, left the village and surrounding areas without electricity, prompting widespread concern and operational disruptions.
Fairport Electric, a municipally owned power company, confirmed the extent of the outage, which affected the transmission lines supplying electricity to the Village of Fairport and the Town of Perinton. Bryan White, the village manager and general manager of electric operations for Fairport Electric, highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that the outage impacted a large segment of the community.
In response to the outage, Fairport Central School District canceled all classes and activities, impacting over 2,000 students and staff. The decision to cancel classes was made due to the widespread power outage, which left schools without electricity and essential services. Families and school staff were forced to manage the disruptions, which included safety concerns and delays.
The power outage raised significant concerns as temperatures stayed low, prompting officials to warn residents to stay safe and take necessary precautions. The outage also highlighted the importance of reliable electricity supply, particularly in cold winter conditions, where heating and lighting are critical.
Fairport Electric, one of 47 municipally owned power companies in New York, typically provides power at considerably less expensive rates than nearby utilities. The outage, however, underscored the challenges faced by such operations in maintaining service continuity during unforeseen events. The disruption, while inconvenient, offers an opportunity to review and enhance emergency response mechanisms to ensure better preparedness for future incidents.
As of now, there have been reports that the outages have been fixed and electricity has been restored to most affected areas. Crews are continuing to check the problem and work on repairs to ensure that the power supply is stable. The community's resilience and the efforts of the local utilities in handling the situation will be crucial in mitigating the impact of such events in the future.
