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Ithaca, 15 August 03 (2:15 pm) -- New York State Electric & Gas and Niagara Mohawk are cooperating with state power authorities and are planning rolling blackouts across the state for this afternoon and tonight, to help the utility companies get their regional electrical grids back to full power after yesterday's massive power outage.

NYSEG and NiMo may be shutting down different areas for two-hour periods on a pre-determined basis, including Ithaca and Tompkins County, but have not published a schedule of the planned outages. Officials at Rochester Gas & Electric have already begun blackouts in western New York, with outages lasting for about half an hour in each of a few areas.

In the meantime, state and local government agencies are asking everyone to immediately reduce their power consumption to the bare minimum, so as to limit the need for rolling blackouts. If today's schedule does not allow full restoration of service, the utilities may have to continue rolling blackouts into the weekend.

Please turn off your air conditioner, or if you do need it, please set the temperature several degrees higher to reduce power consumption. Close shades or blinds to reduce sun heating up your home or workplace. Turn off non-critical lights, televisions or radios that no one's paying attention to, unused computers or copiers, and coffee makers.

Cornell University has told its staff that it does not expect to be directly affected by the rolling blackouts, but the University has asked staff to help conserve electricity on campus by following the above steps.

In New York City, where Mayor Michael Bloomberg asked non-essential employees to stay home, the subway system may not be running for the afternoon rush hour.