Utilities say nearly all customers to have power restored by Friday or Saturday

Western Massachusetts Electric Company announced Thursday it had restored service to 100,000 customers in Western Massachusetts and was confident it would have the remaining 63,000 on line before Saturday.

SPRINGFIELD – Electric company officials said Thursday that nearly all of the remaining 126,000 customers across Massachusetts who have been without electricity for six days should have service restored some time today.

Officials with Western Massachusetts Electric Co. and the National Grid each said crews are making strides to restore service and many communities may be back online by midnight Thursday.

The outage, the result of a freak October snowstorm that began Saturday, knocked out power to as many as 700,000 customers across the state.

Thousands of trees and limbs were brought down onto electrical wires, causing widespread outages and bringing entire communities into total darkness in some cases.

National Grid was reporting that as of 7 p.m. Thursday, it had just over 66,000 customers in the dark, including 27,000 in the Pioneer Valley. By county, that works out to 18,100 in Hampden, 8,200 in Hampshire, and 540 in Franklin. The community with the largest concentration of outages was in Belchertown, where close to 5,200 customers, or close to 80 percent of the town, were still without power

Western Massachusetts Electric Company announced Thursday it had restored service to 100,000 customers in Western Massachusetts and was confident it would have the remaining 63,000 on line before Saturday.

Most customers in Greenfield, Hadley and the Springfield area are expected to have restored service overnight Thursday.

There are some sections in each community that were hardest hit which may take a little longer, possibly during the day Friday or sometime Saturday.

WMECO has 400 total crews out continually making repairs.

“Our first task was to rebuild parts of our system that suffered significant damage,” said Peter J. Clarke, WMECO president and chief operating officer. “We’ve completed restoration to the majority of our main lines, and continue to deploy to the neighborhoods to restore service to our customers, street by street.”

WMECO spokeswoman Sandra Ahearn said the company anticipates main lines in the
Springfield area would be able to be energized sometime Thursday, which would clear the way to address secondary lines leading to various neighborhoods.

“We continue to make steady progress,” Ahearn said. “Crews are working the side streets and in the neighborhoods.”

Connecticut Light & Power is reporting 378,000 customers are still without power across the state but is projecting most will be restored by Sunday night.

Among affected communities are Enfield with 12,600 customers, or 66 percent, still effected, 3,400 or 69 percent of Granby, 2,700 or 70 percent in Somers, and 5,100 or 85 percent in Suffield.

As the restoration in Western Massachusetts continued throughout the week, more complaints were lodged Thursday against the utility companies preparations for the storm and for their progress in making repairs.

Gov. Deval Patrick on Thursday said he planned to speak with the heads of WMECO and National Grid in a conference call that afternoon.

Prior to the call, he told reporters the two utilities did not appear to be keeping up with the needs of the several thousands of people still affected by the outage.

“(National) Grid and Western Massachusetts Electric are not keeping the pace they were in the first 48 hours,” he said. “People are getting frustrated and losing their patience and so am I.”
Also on Thursday, Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno followed up on his promise to ask Attorney General Martha Coakley for an investigation of WMECO’s handling of the restoration in the city of Springfield.

Sarno as early as Wednesday publicly faulted the utility for not devoting enough resources to Springfield, the region’s largest city and home to the single largest concentration of affected customers.

In his letter to Coakley, Sarno writes, “I am requesting that the Office of the Attorney General utilize its oversight authority relative to electric utilities to assure that WMECO deploys sufficient resources for the restoration of power the residents of Springfield, whose residents are in dire straits with prolonged outage.”

In addition to the investigation, Sarno asked Coakley to use her office to assure the city would see expedited resources from WMECO for any “future events this winter.”

As of Thursday evening, some 28,000 customers remained without power, roughly 44 percent of the total customers.

In Longmeadow, Western Massachusetts Electric Co. representatives will meet with residents at 2 p.m. today at Longmeadow High School to discuss the power outage situation, said Select Board Chairman Mark P. Gold.

Agawam Mayor Richard A. Cohen on Thursday sent a letter to WMECO president Peter Clarke, expressing his frustration with the pace of restoration so far.

Agawam as of 7 p.m. Thursday still had 12,800 customers out, roughly 32 percent.

Cohen said he also asked that the company do more to improve lines of communication with the town before there is another prolonged outage.

“It makes me angry the residents of Agawam had had to suffer because of their poor planning,” he said.

Clarke said he could understand the frustration of elected officials, but the company is doing all it can.

“I understand the worst thing that can happen to a politician is to have an event like this a week before an election,” he said.

Crews are focusing on West Springfield and Agawam and working there continually. The two communities were among the hardest hit, he said. “We are in every town trying to meet the needs of all our customers,” Clarke said.

Damage from the storm was extensive across a wide-spread area.

Even so, in the first two days, WMECO crews restored power to 60,000 customers, a record amount. The previous mark was 52,000 restorations in the two days following a major wind storm in May 2010.

“We really do understand how difficult this has been for our customers and we appreciate their continued patience,” Ahearn said.

Ahearn described the storm as an “act of nature,” and said there will be no reimbursement for spoiled food.

National Grid spokesman Stephen Brady said the company also does not reimburse for spoiled food in such cases. “That’s a fairly standard industry practice,” Brady said, adding that people should check with their homeowners insurance providers to see if they are eligible for reimbursement.

The following are community updates.

Agawam

In Agawam, about 50 people spent Wednesday night sleeping on cots at the Senior Center, which has been open round the clock as a warming shelter because it has a generator. Public school are scheduled to reopen Monday.

Mayor Richard A. Cohen said the city continues to collect tree limbs and other debris from the storm if the waste is placed along the tree belt.

Amherst

Amherst Town Manager John P. Musante reported Thursday afternoon that about 20 percent of the town was still without power but he expected it to be restored to most by evening. Schools will remain closed on Friday.

People without power are asked to call (413) 259-3051 or email outage@amherstma.gov to be placed on the list the town will forward to WMECO.

Belchertown

Belchertown Town Administrator Gary L. Brougham said 98 percent of the town was without electricity immediately following the storm. He hopes there at least 5,000 customers back on by the end of Thursday, which would leave 2,000 customers without power.

Brougham said school will resume on Monday and officials need to get the school ready for the students. Updates are being provided on the town’s website, www.belchertown.org.

Chicopee

All but about 500 homes have power restored, and Chicopee Electric Light and Power is now repairing problems at individual homes, Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette said.

The city plans a massive cleanup effort starting Friday. A private contractor has been hired to remove brush left on the curb and residents will be allowed to bring an unlimited amount of brush to the landfill, he said. Schools are scheduled to re-open Monday.

East Longmeadow

Power is expected to be restored to most homes in East Longmeadow by midnight Friday, said Board of Selectmen member Enrico J. Villamaino. He said the shelter established Sunday at Birchland Park Middle School will close Friday after breakfast.

The Department of Public Works is asking residents with transfer station stickers to bring the debris from their homes to the transfer station on Somers Road. The station will be open Wednesdays and Friday through Saturday starting today, officials said.

The town will also be picking up debris from the tree belt.

Easthampton

Nearly a quarter of the homes in Easthampton were still without power by mid-afternoon on Thursday, but Mayor Michael Tautznik was hopeful that work crews would reduce that number by the end of the day. Tautznik said schools would be in session Friday.

Tautznik said the Public Safety Complex would remain available to the public as a warming center and place to charge cell phones.

Hampden

National Grid spokesman Stephen Brady said the “vast majority” of the customers here should have their power restored by Thursday night. Brady said customers with damage to their home service, not the service line but the parts that are attached to the house, may take longer to get power restored. That’s because an electrician is required to do that work.

Holyoke

Fewer than 50 homes scattered around Holyoke remained without electricity as of Thursday afternoon. Those residents will need to work with the Holyoke Gas and Electric Department or find an electrician to repair damage to their homes, such as if downed wires ripped off part of their houses, Holyoke Mayor Elaine A. Pluta said.
The city will begin curbside collection of fallen trees and branches next week, she said.

Longmeadow

In Longmeadow more than 50 percent of residents were still without power Thursday. The town will host a public meeting with Western Massachusetts Electric Co. Friday at 2 p.m. at Longmeadow High School to discuss the delay.

Ludlow

WMECO was reporting Thursday that 50 percent of Ludlow residents were without power. Selectmen Chairman Aaron Saunders said police have been doing hundreds of wellness checks on elderly residents in town.

Monson

In Monson, 56 percent of the town is without power, according to Selectman Edward A. Maia, who said he was told that all the main lines should be back by Thursday night.

School Superintendent Patrice L. Dardenne said he will know on Friday afternoon about the status of school for Monday. Granite Valley Middle School was still without electricity Thursday, and Quarry Hill Community School on Margaret Street is being used as an emergency shelter.

Liz Manley, who is running the shelter for Monson, said they plan to offer supper Friday night, and will remain open at least until 8 p.m. She said they have had people from other towns, such as Wales and Wilbraham, stay at the shelter as well.

Northampton

All but about 6,000 National Grid customers in Northampton had power by mid-afternoon on Thursday and acting Mayor David J. Narkewicz was hopeful that the rest of the city would be on line by the end of the night. Narkewicz said 35 crews were working on the problem. All schools, including Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, are scheduled to open on Friday.

Palmer

About 40 percent of Palmer is still without electricity, according to officials. Administrative Assistant Andrew Golas said he was told by National Grid that 99 percent of the power should be restored by the end of the weekend.

Police Chief Robert P. Frydryk said people should place vegetative debris on the tree belt for pickup, not on the sidewalk or roadway. The town is contracting with a vendor for debris pickup. The leaf pit on Old Warren Road will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday if people want to drop off the debris themselves, he said.

The shelter at Converse Middle School will remain open for as long as there is a need, Frydryk said.

South Hadley

Power has been restored to over 90 percent of the town, South Hadley Electric Light Manager Wayne Doerpholz said Thursday morning.

Southwick

Schools in the Southwick-Tolland Regional School District, including Granville Village School, are expected to reopen Monday.

Estimates on power restoration in Southwick was 60 to 70 percent complete late Thursday.

Springfield

Springfield was continuing to operate its shelter at Central High School on Thursday. Hundreds were taking shelter there and receiving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Helen R. Caulton-Harris, the city’s director of health and human service, said she anticipates that the shelter will close on Saturday.

On Thursday morning, 41 percent of the city, about 23,000 customers, continued to be without power in Springfield. Power line crews and tree crews were expanding, according to city officials and Western Massachusetts Electric Co.

The Salvation Army is providing services including mobile feeding vans at: the Van Sickle Middle School parking lot, 1170 Carew St.; the Kiley Middle School parking lot, 180 Cooley Street; and the John F. Kennedy Middle School parking lot, 1385 Berkshire Ave., with lunches from noon to 1:30 p.m., and dinners from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

The Springfield Housing Authority has been operating warming centers and providing meals, particularly to its residents in elderly housing. The authority has been assisted by the American Red Cross of Springfield, Greater Springfield Senior Services and the city’s Department of Elder Affairs.

The warming centers have been provided at the John L. Sullivan Apartments, the Jennie Lane Apartments, the Forest Park Manor and Morris School II Apartments, with generators providing heat. They have also provided emergency meals at the warming centers.

Ware

Schools are closed through Friday, as 50 percent of Ware is still without electricity. Karen M. Cullen, the town’s public information officer, said the shelter at the high school will remain open until 8 a.m. Friday. It is not yet known if school will be open on Monday.

She said the town is focusing on power restoration, and will have information about a debris collection site at a later date. Ware also is posting storm-related information on its website at www.townofware.com.

West Springfield

West Springfield Mayor Edward J. Gibson reported late Thursday afternoon about 48 percent of the city was still without electricity. “The phones are ringing off the hook. People are getting frustrated and ticked off,” Gibson said. Classes in West Springfield public will return Monday. The mayor said he has been told by the utility that power should be restored to 99 percent of the city by noon Saturday.

Thirty-four people spent Wednesday night at the West Springfield Senior. The center has been acting as a warming center and shelter during the crisis.

Westfield

Westfield’s Gas and Electric Department was nearing 100 percent completion in efforts to restore electricity to its 19,000 customers late Thursday, spokesman Sean P. Fitzgerald said. “We expect to have electrical power on every city street by Friday afternoon,” he said. Some homes, an estimated 600, where service lines from the street were downed by limbs and trees, still may not see power restored until Saturday, officials said. Homeowners are responsible for home damage and/or damage to electrical service beyond the meter.

Residents were urged Thursday to deposit downed limbs and brush on tree belts. The Department of Public Works will collect the brush and limbs, Mayor Daniel M. Knapik said. Also, the city’s transfer station on Twiss Street will open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday for residents to bring brush for disposal. Identification will be required.

Wilbraham

Wilbraham Selectmen Chairman Patrick J. Brady said that as of Thursday only 42
percent of residents had power. “Our projections are that we won’t be at 90 percent until sometime Saturday,” Brady said. Those who need a place to stay are invited to go to the Hampden Senior Center which has cots and has been serving meals. The Scantic Valley YMCA also is making showers available for Wilbraham residents.

School is canceled through this week and Saturday SATs are canceled, Brady said.

The Disposal and Recycling Center on Boston Road will be open to residents (no DRC sticker is required) for brush disposal Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Only vegetative debris from the town’s right of way will be removed. Debris from private property will not be picked up in the tree belt. The town hopes to start picking up vegetative debris on the town’s right of way from public streets beginning next week. There will be only one pass per street for pickup