WMECO Halloween Snowstorm Response Hearing Tuesday Night

From a Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities press release:

The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) announced it will conduct a series of eight public meetings to gather public comments on storm preparation and power restoration efforts by three of the state’s investor-owned electric utilities in the wake of the October 29 snowstorm.

In response to customer and municipal concerns, the DPU opened investigations on November 8 into National Grid, Western Massachusetts Electric Company and NSTAR’s storm response focusing on the companies’ efforts to restore electric power, including their communications with affected communities.   The investigations will determine whether the companies complied with DPU regulations and fully implemented their Emergency Response Plans, which were last filed in May 2011.  As part of that investigation, the DPU will hold meetings in each company’s service territory and will collect written public comment until 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 22, 2011.  Meetings will be held in Belchertown, Brookfield, East Longmeadow, Maynard, Greenfield, Springfield, Tyngsborough, and Worcester, representing the hardest hit regions of each company’s service territory. The DPU encourages customers to attend any of the eight meetings as well as to submit written comments.

The DPU is also reviewing each company’s 30-day post-storm report, which is due 30 days after each utility completes restoring power.

The DPU’s investigations are focused on compliance with DPU’s performance standards for emergency preparation and restoration of service, including: (1) preparation for and management of the restoration efforts with respect to the October snowstorm; (2) allocation of company resources in the affected communities; (3) communications with state, local municipal and public safety officials, and with the department; (4) dissemination of timely information to the public; and (5) identification of company practices requiring improvement.                       

Western Massachusetts Electric Company – October 29 snowstorm hearing:  Tuesday, December 13 at 7 p.m.  Greenfield High School, 1 Lenox Ave.