News Release
WMECo Makes Significant Progress in Storm Restoration
16,000 customers affected by tropical storm; Most should have service restored later today
SPRINGFIELD, Mass., August 28, 2011 – Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECo) has made significant progress in restoring power to customers in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene.
As of 5 p.m., more than 13,000 customers have already been restored to service. Approximately 3,500 customers remain without power. Line and tree crews staged throughout WMECo’s service territory will continue work throughout the night.
“The strength of the storm weakened substantially as it moved through WMECo’s territory. We were able to mobilize quickly and efficiently to repair the damage to our system,” said Peter Clarke, WMECo president and chief operating officer.
WMECo anticipates most customers should have service restored later tonight, although some outages in hard hit areas may remain into Monday.
Please continue to follow these important safety messages as we work to complete the restoration process:
· Treat all downed wires as live and stay at least 10 feet away! A downed wire can cause shock or death even if you do not touch it. Call 911 or WMECo at (877) OK-WMECO to report fallen lines immediately.
· Take extreme caution when clearing debris left by the storm. Carefully survey your surroundings for downed wires and dangerous objects like broken glass. Look below and overhead.
· Take caution if using a generator. Always operate generators outdoors—indoor operation can cause buildup of deadly carbon monoxide fumes. Home generators should always be installed by a qualified electrician.
Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECo), a Northeast Utilities company (NYSE:NU), transmits and delivers electricity to 210,000 customers in 59 cities and towns. For more information, please visit our website: