Power Restoration Activity Increases — Safety Risks Associated with Return of Power to Homes

As of noon on Friday, Nov. 4, 81 percent of CL&P’s customers in Simsbury remain without power. 

“We have let CL&P know that their response has been unacceptable,” First Selectman Mary A. Glassman said.

CL&P has increased the number of crews in Simsbury — a total of 20 line crews, 11 tree crews and 26 electricians were deployed as of Friday morning — and National Guard troops have been deployed to clear areas which have not been accessible to the town’s safety personnel for days. Glassman added that the Farmington Valley towns are meeting with CL&P representatives this afternoon to determine a specific plan of action to bring power back to the area.

Crews are working on Firetown, Hoskins, Terry’s Plain, Tariffville and Quarry Roads in addition to the Tariffville Pump Station. There have been reports across the state that power line crews are being accosted by angry residents — it is obviously critical that these crews are treated with courtesy and given the space they need to safely complete their work.

With power restoration underway, “residents need to make sure that their stoves are turned off before power is restored,” warned Kevin Kowalski, Emergency Manager for the Town of Simsbury. “We’ve had fires resulting from power restoration to electric stoves which were left on after the storm started.”

CL&P continues to predict that power will be restored to 99 percent of customers by the end of the day Sunday. Town officials remain skeptical — “even a quick look at some of our residential streets leads us to doubt that timeline,” said Glassman.