Arc flash at Astoria transmission substation in Queens disrupts supply and airport
Dec 2018Published 1 May 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
- Where
- Astoria transmission substation, Astoria, Queens, New York City
- Operator
- Consolidated Edison
- What
- Sustained arc flash on 138 kV equipment with brief fire
- Cause
- Under investigation
- Outcome
- Airport supply affected; power restored same evening
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Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Edison
What happened
On the night of 27 December 2018, an electrical fault occurred on 138,000 volt equipment at the Astoria transmission substation in Astoria, Queens, New York City, operated and owned by Consolidated Edison. The fault developed into a sustained arc flash, accompanied by a brief electrical fire involving transformers and a transmission dip across the surrounding area. Smoke was seen coming from transformer equipment and an intense blue light from the arc was visible across a wide area of the metropolitan region, with many members of the public photographing and filming it.
Supply to a nearby major airport was affected; power was largely restored by about 23:00 the same evening and the airport resumed normal operations, with travellers advised to confirm flight information with their carriers. Consolidated Edison reported that the affected equipment was confined to a single section within the substation and that all major transmission lines associated with the event had been restored. An investigation into the failure was opened.
Contributing factors
Consolidated Edison stated publicly that an electrical fault on the 138 kV equipment at the Astoria substation caused a sustained arc flash, and that the affected equipment was isolated to a single section within the substation. Specific causation was the subject of a formal investigation and no root cause had been published at the time of the source report. No further contributing factors were stated by the sources.
Lessons learned
- Check segregation between substation sections so a fault on one 138 kV bay does not produce a sustained arc flash across multiple items.
- Agree contingency plans with airports and other critical users of urban substations before a transmission dip occurs.
- Prepare for rapid public attention after an arc flash at a city substation because the blue light is visible over long distances.
More lessons on worker safety and safe systems of work, from every incident on the register.
Not yet known
- Root cause of the electrical fault
- Model and age of the failed equipment
- Cost of repairs and downtime
This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.
Source
Other entries that name Queens
Published 2026-05-01. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
