Bob Godfrey

I wanted to share the most recent update from Eversource regarding the restoration of services to all of its residents.

As of 8 am. this morning there were still more than 85,000 customers without power - 85,000! As of mid-day today 16 percent of Danbury had no power. According to Evesrource, the estimated time of restoration is tomorrow, Aug. 11, at 11:59 p.m.

I stand with many in calling for the resignation of Eversource CEO James J. Judge. We deserved better than this. Eversource had more than ample time to prepare for Isaias which did a lot of damage to the state and caused unnecessary strain on its residents.

I applaud the line workers, who are hard at work and under considerable stress but it's time for the CEO to go.

And I don't mean for another escape in his private helicopter. And with that, the update from Eversource:

Restoration Continues with All Hands on Deck
Crews Working Non-Stop Making Complex Repairs

Emergency Condition: Level 2 ERP (Emergency Response Plan)

In light of COVID-19, work practices and reporting procedures have been altered to protect our employees' health, and those of our communities we serve. Pandemic guidelines have been reinforced across the system and they will be maintained while restoring service to all customers. 

Overview

• As of this morning on Monday, August 10, 2020, more than 4,500 crews and support staff continue working non-stop to restore power to every customer impacted by this devastating storm. Since 8 a.m. on Sunday August 9, more than 80,000 customers have been restored to power.
• We are making complex repairs and, in some cases, rebuilding entire portions of the electric system, which can be time intensive.
• During our restoration process, we focus first on restoring the largest number of customers possible. Outages restored last are often the most difficult and labor intensive and can take the longest to repair. Restoration may take longer in areas where there are single, scattered outages.
• Customers without power are encouraged to confirm that the service line from their house to the pole is connected without damage. Stay at least 10 feet away from all downed wires and contact us to report the problem. Proactive outreach is underway to customers we suspect may have a service line related outage. This link provides more information about individual service equipment ownership.
• As 8 a.m. today, Monday, August 10, 2020, approximately 86,000 customers remain without power. At the storm’s peak, 632,632 customers lost power.
• Some customers may lose power as a necessary step for our crews to safely make repairs needed to restore service to many more customers. The number of outages on the Eversource Outage Map includes customers who lost power during the restoration process, as well as customers experiencing outages related to the storm.
• Eversource continues to work with all communities to identify, prioritize and restore critical infrastructure and facilities. As of 9 a.m. today, Eversource has restored 779 of the 860 identified critical facilities including several state polling places, water treatment facilities, and more than 100 fire departments, among others.
• We know that being without electricity is difficult and disruptive to our customers and communities, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are grateful for their patience.

OPERATIONS

• The Connecticut Electric Incident Command Team declared a level 2 Emergency Response Plan (ERP) on Wednesday, August 5.
• The Electric and Gas Incident Command Teams will remain activated throughout the restoration.
• Gas operations has not had any significant impacts but continues to monitor the system. Gas personnel are currently supporting electric response operations.
• The historic damage from this storm cannot be overstated. To date, more than 500 miles of electrical wire were damaged and in need of replacement. As of 8 a.m., Monday, August 10, our patrollers identified:

Public Information

• Community Relations is working with out community partners across the state assisting with priorities. Our liaisons are in frequent contact with town leaders.
• A media event will be held at the Lake Compounce staging area, today, Monday, August 10.
• Our Media Relations team continues responding to numerous media inquiries.
• Two customer communications will be sent to all customers remaining without power today via email, text and phone to provide an update on the restoration progress.
• Restoration estimates for all Connecticut communities are available at Eversource.com.
• This town-level estimate is when we expect most customers in that town to be restored, with one percent or fewer customers in that community remaining without power.
• We will launch other internal and external communications as appropriate.
  • This Emergency Briefing will be sent to communities, including state regulators and the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
  • Restoration effort updates will be on Twitter (@EversourceCT) and Facebook (facebook.com/EversourceCT).

SAFETY INFORMATION

• If you see a downed wire, Call Eversource at 800-286-2000 or 911 to report it. Stay as far away as possible until Eversource arrives to make the area safe.
• Before you use a generator, make sure it is connected by a qualified electrician and to a home’s wiring through a special transfer switch. This ensures electricity produced by the generator does not back-feed into our electrical lines, endangering the lives of utility line technicians.
• Always operate generators outdoors and as far from the house as possible. Keep it away from doors, windows and air vents to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
• A list of available cooling stations in Connecticut is accessible via United Way 211 at www.211ct.org.