Is Connecticut Doomed To Power Outages

The state of Connecticut has been hit hard by storms this year. Hurricane Irene was the big one, of course. However, different parts of the state have been hit by various rain and snowstorms that have left customers without electricity for days. Some state residents are wondering if this is the "new normal" or if there is something that can be done to improve the situation so that they retain electricity even in the face of natural disaster.

It would be unreasonable to expect that all utility lines remain up and running during huge storms. However, many customers feel that they are not asking too much to have their utility restored in a prompt, timely manner. People are often without power and heat for days following a storm, and many say that this should not be accepted as a normal situation.

In fact, Connecticut House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden has proposed that the state of Connecticut pass legislation that would hold CL&P and UI more accountable in the aftermath of storms. He reports that Massachusetts has a law that requires all utilities to restore 95% of power service within 72 hours following a storm. He'd like to see the same thing happen in Connecticut and many customers agree.

Although they don't like it, customers are reluctantly accepting that things may remain this way for the time being. They are stocking up on flashlights and buying backup generators. They are installing wood stoves in the home because they seem like a more reliable heat source than what the utility companies are providing. Hopefully, though, the voice of the consumers will rise up and start forcing the major utilities to do a better job in dealing with power losses caused by storms.

Source: http://www.myrecordjournal.com/state/article_93c1fdd0-0823-11e1-a9be-001cc4c002e0.html