HYANNIS – Eversource representatives said that they expect power restoration efforts to be complete for most communities by 6pm Saturday.
Strong winds made repair work hazardous on Wednesday, and the shear amount of debris also impeded progress, but the energy company said that its crews are working hard and will likely have power back on for most residents by the end of the week.
Eversource said that most affected customers will likely see their power restored sooner as over 1,500 service crews continue repairs, some from as far away as Canada.
The full statement from Eversource can be found below:
BOSTON – Despite taking on additional damage and power outages overnight as strong winds persisted on the Cape, Eversource crews are making significant progress with its massive restoration effort, which will continue to intensify through the day. The energy company estimates that it will have power restored to the majority of customers affected by the nor’easter by Saturday at 6 p.m., with most being restored before then.
More than 1,500 line and tree crews – including crews from as far away as Canada, Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee – are working non-stop to repair the extensive damage to the electric system, with the worst being in Plymouth, New Bedford, Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, and hundreds of additional out-of-state crews will be arriving throughout the day to assist with restoration efforts. As of 12:15 p.m., the energy company has restored power to more than 240,000 customers since the storm began, including some more than once, and will continue working around the clock until all approximately 178,000 customers in Massachusetts who remain without power at 1:30 p.m. are restored.
“We know how frustrating even a momentary interruption in service can be and we will work tirelessly – with every crew and resource we can muster – until every customer affected by this storm has power again,” said Eversource President and CEO Joe Nolan. “We had strong, hazardous winds on the Cape through the night, which brought down more trees and electric lines, causing additional power outages. The number of massive trees down is a major factor and has made the job even more challenging, but we remain laser focused on this restoration – which will intensify as the day goes on. We are grateful to our customers for their patience and recognize the tremendous disruption that being without electricity presents.”
To expedite restoration the energy company has set up four staging areas to support crew deployment. Staging areas are now in place at Kingston Collection, Cape Cod Mall, a MASS DOT facility in Orleans and Falmouth Mall. These satellite locations supplement Eversource’s regular work centers, reducing materials bottlenecks and providing more efficient deployment of crews through a more localized approach. Each location is led by an experienced commander with control of the restoration process in their area, a mobile command center, dedicated crews, supervisors, and damage assessors, as well as road-clearing and other equipment. The energy company provided lodging to more than 4,000 workers last night and anticipates providing lodging for at least 5,000 workers tonight, including at Joint Base Cape Cod.
Eversource crews continue to follow COVID-19 safety protocols as they work to repair damage and restore power, and the energy company reminds customers to please keep their distance. The company also reminds customers to always stay clear of downed wires, report them immediately to 9-1-1 and to be cautious while continuing with their own storm clean up – be careful moving or cutting tree limbs and look for any wires that may be entangled in debris.
About Grady Culhane
