Senator Cohen Writes Eversource President:
“I implore you to explain how Eversource can justify such a poor storm response.”
GUILFORD – State Senator Christine Cohen (D-Guilford) today wrote Eversource Energy Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer James J. Judge to ask how the Massachusetts-based, multibillion dollar company could have so badly prepared for and – so far –executed its cleanup following Tropical Storm Isaias, which has left nearly three-quarters of a million customers in Connecticut without power – including nearly 31,000 customers in five of the six towns that Sen. Cohen represents in the 12th State Senate District: Branford, Durham, Guilford, Killingworth, Madison, and about four dozen customers in North Branford.
“Forecasters had been tracking this storm for a week. Its track was not a surprise to anyone. That Connecticut was on the east side of the storm and would be experiencing incredibly high winds was not a surprise to anyone. So why then did it seem to catch Eversource off guard? Why did Eversource not plan for crews to provide service through the night? Why were there large portions of towns across the state inaccessible to emergency vehicles?” Sen. Cohen said. “It’s been a decade since the devastating October storm of 2011 and here we are, with practically the same number of power outages in Connecticut. Why? In the past 10 years, what lessons did Eversource learn about storm preparedness in Connecticut, if any? Instead, Eversource has cut its workforce by seven percent since 2012, even as its profits are soaring. Is that why there are so few boots on the ground across the region despite rate increases that were to be used to purportedly pay for some emergency relief efforts? I have so many questions that need to be answered if my constituents and I are going to have any faith in the largest electricity company in the state going forward.”
Sen. Cohen also appeared today at a press conference with state Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex), who is Senate Chairman of the legislature’s Energy and Technology Committee. Sen. Needleman called for a legislative investigation and audit into Eversource to review its past electrical grid hardening preparation, its charges to consumers, and its response to Tropical Storm Isaias.
A copy of Sen. Cohen’s letter to Eversource Chairman Judge is below:
Dear Mr. Judge,
I write to you this morning dismayed by the lack of a quick, effective storm response by Eversource to the damage caused during Tropical Storm Isaias.
As the senator for the 12th Senate District, representing the towns of Branford, Durham, Guilford, Killingworth, North Branford, and Madison, I need to understand why there have been so many shortcomings. Of my utmost concern are our seniors and most vulnerable populations during the heat of summer, as well as those with no access to water as a result of the power outage. We certainly do not want people to congregate in public shelters during a pandemic, yet this is exactly how most towns will respond in order to serve the needs of our most vulnerable.
Additionally, I was surprised to hear from the local fire chiefs, police and other town officials that Eversource refused to service towns during the night with line crews. Power outages in the my Senate district are overwhelming, with 80% of Madison without power and Guilford at 74%. As a result of the lack of Eversource crews to promptly respond to downed trees and wires, public safety has been jeopardized because entire sections of towns have been cut off from emergency services.
There also seems to be a disconnect in how Eversource portrayed its storm readiness on the eve of the storm. Eversource Vice President of Electric Operations Mike Hayhurst stated, “Working under challenging conditions related to the pandemic our crews are positioned around the state and ready to respond to any damage or outages caused by Tropical Storm Isaias. Our team will work around-the-clock to restore power as quickly and safely as possible – yet some restorations may take longer as we work to ensure the safety of our employees and customers.” However, the opposite appears to have occurred. The power outages were further hampered by a temporary outage of the Eversource reporting system.
After the devastating storms of 2011, Eversource vowed to make the changes needed to ensure that it would be able to respond more efficiently and effectively to natural disasters. Municipalities also responded and did their part to improve communications with utilities and enhanced their emergency operation systems. However, it appears that there are still serious flaws in the preparation for, and implementation of, your storm response to Tropical Storm Isaias.
The Hartford Courant reported last year that Eversource spent $152.5 million over two years on emergency repairs to damage caused by numerous storms. Recently we have seen exorbitant rate hikes for consumers, in part to cover expenses from storms. The most recent storm was well-predicted and expected, but the response of Eversource has not lived up to expectations. What evidence is there to demonstrate that customers reaped the rewards their increased payments? What improvements to customer service have been implemented? To what extent has Eversource improved its storm responsiveness?
I implore you to explain how Eversource can justify such a poor storm response after continual rate hikes, despite making close to a billion dollars in profit last year! There is no excuse why Eversource cannot provide better services to consumers, especially in light of a well-predicted tropical storm. I ask you to explain to the Connecticut General Assembly your inadequate communication structures, lack of a timely, efficient storm response and to provide clear plans on how this will be remedied immediately. We are at the beginning of the hurricane season, and in the midst of a health pandemic, and I fear that we will be dealing with this horrific and unacceptable situation yet again.
Respectfully,
Christine Cohen
State Senator
12th Senatorial District
Senator Anwar Provides List of Community Resources for District Residents Impacted By Significant Damage Caused By Tropical Storm Isaias
Senator Anwar Provides List of Community Resources for District Residents Impacted By Significant Damage Caused By Tropical Storm Isaias
Today, in light of the extensive damage caused by Tropical Storm Isaias that left nearly half of all Connecticut residents without power this week, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) shared lists of resources available to residents in his district including cooling and charging stations and areas where they can dispose of brush and damaged tree limbs.
In East Hartford, residents can charge phones and get temporary power assistance outside the East Hartford Public Library, with wireless internet available from the library’s parking lot and the front lawn. Indoor charging stations will be available Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at East Hartford Parks and Recreation at 50 Chapman Place. Attendees are asked to wear face masks, follow social distancing and bring charging devices. The East Hartford Transfer Station will be open for additional days this week for disposal of brush; this week only, residents will not need bulky waste permits to dispose of brush at the transfer station.
In South Windsor, charging and cooling stations are available at the South Windsor Public Library and South Windsor Community Center for the public. The town has sanctioned 595 Nutmeg Road North as a resident drop-off area for brush and limbs. Once enough brush and limbs are collected, they will be incinerated in Hartford. That site will be open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until adequate storm cleanup is achieved.
In Ellington, Hall Memorial Library is open until 8 p.m. for residents to charge phones, use wireless internet and cool down in air conditioning. The Hoffman Road brush drop-off area will operate on an extended schedule through Saturday, open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The town Department of Public Works will not collect brush along roads, focusing on downed trees.
In East Windsor, the Town Hall Annex at 25 School Street is available for air conditioning and charging purposes; information about debris clearing was not immediately available.
On Wednesday, Sen. Anwar worked with local officials and representatives to survey the severity of damage in South Windsor, with information at the town’s Emergency Operations Center indicating 40 percent of town residents, more than 10,000 Eversource customers, lost power as a result of Tropical Storm Isaias. Nearly half of all Eversource customers statewide lost power due to damage from the storm.
Senator Needleman, In Response to Severe Damage Caused By Tropical Storm Isaias, Asks Eversource: “Where Has All The Money Gone?”
Senator Needleman, In Response to Severe Damage Caused By Tropical Storm Isaias, Asks Eversource:
“Where Has All The Money Gone?”
ESSEX – State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) – Senate Chairman of the legislature’s Energy and Technology Committee and serving his fifth term as the first selectman of Essex – held a press conference this afternoon, calling for a legislative investigation and audit into Eversource for its electrical grid hardening preparation and response so far to Tropical Storm Isaias, which left nearly three-quarters of a million customers in Connecticut without power – including 90 percent of the Town of Essex.
Sen. Needleman noted Eversource routinely seeks customer rate hikes from the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to cover the cost of emergency repairs caused by storms. In January 2019, Eversource sought more than $150 million in rate hikes to cover the cost of damaged equipment, poles, fuel, and to pay out-of-state workers for five storms over two years. In 2013, Eversource sought nearly half a billion dollars in rate hikes to cover the costs of the cleanup and repairs necessitated by Hurricane Irene in 2011, the Halloween nor’easter in October 2011, and superstorm Sandy in 2012.
The first bill that Sen. Needleman introduced as a state senator was to get Eversource to increase the size of its workforce – especially its line crews – which has been substantially cut even as Eversource corporate profits skyrocket.
“PURA routinely reviews and approves some form of customer rate increase for Eversource to pay for electrical system ‘hardening’ so Eversource’s infrastructure becomes more resilient to storms over the years,” said Sen. Needleman, who was up until 3 a.m. Wednesday morning with town employees and homeowners cutting downed trees in Essex. “My question is, where has all that money gone? What did customers get for their investment in Eversource? Why isn’t Eversource investing in and hiring new linemen? We’ve got nearly three-quarters of a million people without power in Connecticut today – including nearly all of Essex – which is about the same number of people who lost power during that devastating ice storm in April 2011. It seems very little has changed with Eversource over the past decade, now matter how much money consumers throw at them.”
Senator Needleman Announces Department of Transportation Digital Public Information Hearing On Westbrook Bridge Project To Be Held On September 3rd
Senator Needleman Announces Department of Transportation Digital Public Information Hearing On Westbrook Bridge Project To Be Held On September 3rd
Today, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) announced the Department of Transportation will conduct a digital public information meeting regarding the planned 2022 rehabilitation of a major Westbrook bridge on Thursday, September 3 at 5:30 p.m. The public hearing will see DOT professionals explain the requirements of the project, namely the poor condition of the existing bridge deck, and detail the planned 10-week project lifespan to come.
According to its most recent inspection report from September 2019, Bridge 00230 in Westbrook, more commonly known as the bridge carrying Willard Avenue over Interstate 95 in Westbrook, is in poor condition and has significant erosion of its deck, with further structural repairs and beam painting needed to rehabilitate existing steel girders in fair condition. The extensive damage will require a full deck replacement with full beam painting; there will be a 10-week road closure and associated detour in the summer of 2022 to complete the project.
Construction is currently anticipated to begin in the spring of 2022 depending on available funding, acquisition of rights of way and approval of permits. Estimated construction cost is $5 million, with $4 million coming from federal funds.
The digital public hearing will be livestreamed via Microsoft Teams and Youtube Live, with a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session. The presentation will additionally be recorded. Members of the public are encouraged to log in online; people with limited internet access can request project information by mail by emailing visit this link.