From Eversource, Sunday, July 5:
Following the powerful rain, hail and windstorm that battered communities across Connecticut on the Fourth of July, Eversource’s skilled team of line, tree and service crews in the field, and system operators behind the scenes, continues assessing the widespread damage and restoring power to customers impacted.
The energy company is bringing in crews from around the area, including Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Canada to help assist with restoration. As of 2:00 p.m., Eversource has restored power to roughly 60,000 customers since the storm began. Approximately 62,000 customers in Connecticut remain without power because of the storm and crews will stay on the job until service to all affected customers is restored.
“This storm was significantly more powerful and widespread than was forecasted and caused substantial damage in several states throughout the entire region, including Connecticut, and we continue to assess the widespread and extensive damage to the electric system,” said Eversource President of Connecticut Electric Operations Don Scacco. “The intense storm with up to 65+ mph winds brought down tree limbs and branches onto electric lines and equipment causing power outages in communities across the state. Our crews in the field worked all night and remain on the job responding as quickly and safely as possible to address community priorities such as blocked roads while also clearing damage and making necessary repairs to the electric system and will continue working around-the-clock until every customer has their power back on.”
With hundreds of thousands of electric customers in the region without power because of the storm, contractor crews are currently mobilized in several states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York addressing their massive power restoration needs. In addition to the Eversource crews from Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the company is also bringing in outside contractor crews from as far as Canada to assist with this restoration.
Eversource reminds customers to always stay clear of downed wires – including keeping pets away – and report them immediately to 9–1–1 and to report any outage online at www.eversource.com, or by calling 800-286-2000.