Submitted by Mitch Gross
BERLIN, Conn. (Dec. 22, 2020) – With heavy rain and high winds expected to impact Connecticut on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Eversource is closely monitoring the weather forecast and planning accordingly. While continuing to operate under its COVID-19 pandemic plan and adhering to its strict social distancing and safety measures, the energy company is positioning line and tree crews across the state to respond to any damage or outages caused by this storm. Eversource is working to bring in out-of-state crews to assist with restoring power if needed, and is adding customer care representatives to its call centers to assist customers during the storm.
“We recognize the last thing anyone wants is another storm, especially on Christmas. We’re taking all necessary actions now – including cancelling employee vacations and working to secure out-of-state crews – so our team is ready to respond to whatever this storm may bring,” said Eversource President of Regional Electric Operations Craig Hallstrom. “We’re pre-positioning crews and necessary equipment at our work centers throughout the state to respond to any damage to the electric system and restore power as quickly as possible so our customers can enjoy their holiday.”
As this storm will cause expedited snow melt and flooding is possible, Eversource reminds customers flooding can cause damage to a home furnace or other natural gas appliances and some natural gas heating systems may be affected in the event of a power interruption. If flooding is severe, natural gas appliances should not be used until inspected by a licensed plumber or contractor. Once that is completed, Eversource can turn gas service back on and safely relight appliances.
Eversource recommends customers assemble or restock a storm kit with essential items, including pet food and medications. The energy company also offers these tips to help customers prepare for any storm:
The energy company reminds customers to always stay clear of downed wires and to report them immediately to 9-1-1. Be sure to report any outage online at www.eversource.com, or by calling 800-286-2000. Customers who signed up for the company’s two-way texting feature can send a text to report an outage and receive outage updates as they happen. Additional preparedness tips can be found at the Storm Preparedness section at Eversource.com.
