Springfield, Mass. (September 9, 2014) – September is National Preparedness Month and WMECo is ready to respond to any damage and outages this year’s seasonal storms may bring. With the height of hurricane season upon us and the recent history of major storms hitting our region, the company is reminding customers to be sure they’re prepared for emergencies too.

“We never know what Mother Nature will send our way, so we work year-round to make our system more resilient to storm damage; improve our storm readiness; and enhance the lines of communication with our communities and customers,” said Craig Hallstrom, President of WMECo and NSTAR Electric. “We also work very closely with state and local agencies to continually strengthen our partnerships during any emergency situation.”

WMECo’s annual system reliability work includes comprehensive ground and aerial inspections of its existing equipment using high-resolution digital photography, as well as visual and infrared inspections of over 240 miles of overhead transmission lines. The company also performed infrared and visual inspections of key electrical distribution equipment in communities across its service area. Year-round tree pruning, aimed at reducing tree-related power outages, is also a key part of the company’s commitment to providing reliable electric service.

WMECo continues to perform ­ storm hardening on overhead lines to improve their resiliency during summer thunderstorms, and installed additional automation to reduce the impact of outages when they do occur.

In addition, the completion of the $676 million dollar Greater Springfield Reliability Project to upgrade the electric transmission system will also ensure the improved delivery of electricity to the region.

Regardless of the season, trees remain the number one cause of power outages in our region, often tearing down electrical lines and toppling utility poles during severe weather. In an effort to lessen the damage, WMECo has a comprehensive vegetation management program to address street-side trees as well as those growing near high-voltage power lines that pose obvious threats to electric service reliability. But even the healthiest trees can come down in a storm, so WMECo reminds everyone to be on the look-out for downed wires and to always treat them as live and dangerous. Anyone coming across a downed line should stay clear and call the company at 1-877-OK-WMECo (877-659-6326).

WMECo customers can report outages 24/7 by calling 1-877-OK-WMECo (877-659-6326) or online at WMECo.com. Town-by-town outage information is also available using the outage map in the outage information section. It’s also important that families and businesses develop and rehearse an emergency plan and keep a storm kit stocked with essential supplies.