Another Test for CT Utilities: High Winds Threaten to Cause More Power Outages

Connecticut’s utilities failed their last big test: a rare October nor’easter that – at its peak – knocked out power to over 800,000 residents.

As a result of the slow response effort, Connecticut’s attorney general has said he will research whether the state’s largest utility, Connecticut Light & Power, broke any laws in its handling of the outages.

Nearly two weeks after the storm hit, the utility still hasn’t restored electricity to all of its affected customers. As of Thursday, November 10, a few dozen Connecticut Light & Power customers were still in the dark.

But now, Connecticut Light & Power and The United Illuminating Co. – the state’s other major utility – must contend with a new issue: strong winds.

Governor Dannel P. Malloy is warning residents that strong winds predicted for Friday, November 11, could bring down trees and limbs that were weakened by the October nor’easter.

“The weather forecast is calling for winds of 15-30 miles per hour with locally higher gusts,” Governor Malloy said. “Normally, these types of winds would not be of concern, but with the condition of trees following the October snowstorm, they are likely to have some impact tomorrow and I’m urging residents to take precaution if they’re planning to be outside tomorrow.”

Malloy continued, “Now that power is back on across our state, we expect the utility companies will be extra vigilant about responding to any new outages, particularly as a number of residents just got the power back on recently.”

The Governor has instructed the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security to discuss the forecast – and the planned response to any power outages that may occur – with both Connecticut Light & Power and The United Illuminating Co. He is urging all parties to take the proper precautions.

Friday’s weather forecast calls for westerly winds building in early morning and then peaking in late afternoon. Winds should subside during the evening.

The National Weather Service predicts that the Hartford area could experience wind speeds between 15 and 17 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

Related posts:

1. Too Little Too Late? Utility Offers $10M for CT Power Outage Relief; Attorney General to Investigate Whether Utility Broke Laws Following October Storm
2. Power Outages from East Coast Snowstorm top 2.7M
3. Power Outages Rise as Irene Approaches Bay State
4. About 70,000 Without Power in Conn. Ahead of Irene
5. State Senator Expresses Outrage Over Power Outages in Central and Western MA in Letter to Governor Patrick

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Posted by erik devaney on Nov 11 2011. Filed under Featured - For home page featured article, General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry