UI: Overnight Outages Primarily in Hamden

From UI:

The United Illuminating Company, sustained limited damage to its electric distribution system as a result of the massive winter snowstorm.  Crews were in the field Friday night during extreme weather conditions and successfully restored impacted customers, primarily in Hamden.Dedicated personnel were able to restore some 1,900 customers overnight.

There are limited outages in select locations throughout the UI service territory.  As of 8:30am, some 184 customers were without electric service.  Crews have either been assigned or in the process of being assigned to restore power to those customers.  Currently, the biggest challenge in dealing with the limited outages is merely getting road access due to the heavy snow volume.

 “We continue to monitor the situation and wait for all of inclement weather to pass our service area,” said James P. Torgerson, UI’s president and chief executive officer. “However, we feel confident with our current position and have begun assessing when we could release some of UI’s crews to assist others in the State. Our industry is truly a collaborative one and we will provide our support to others where we can.” 

The company actually began reviewing outside contractors and out-of-state staffing resources overnight and have already began to release those crews as early as 8am on Saturday morning.  UI also made contact with crews it had secured that were in route to Connecticut from Florida and Alabama and decided to redirect them.   

“Staying indoors is still the best idea,” Torgerson added.  “Safety should remain the top priority rather electric related or not.”

Storm tips:

• Report electric service outages and service emergencies to UI at 800-722-5584 (800-7-CALL-UI). If there is an immediate threat to safety, call 911.
• Avoid using candles indoors during an outage – they may present a fire hazard.
• Never use your natural gas stove or oven as a space heater. If you lose heat, put on warm clothing. If necessary, relocated somewhere with functioning heat, or dial 211 for a referral to a shelter or other emergency services.
• If your home has generator for use during a power outage, read and follow the instructions carefully. Make sure the generator operates outdoors away from your home so the byproducts of combustion don’t enter your living space.
• Assume downed wires or damaged electrical equipment is live and dangerous, as well as anything they may be touching. Stay at least 20 feet away, and keep children and pets indoors.
• Storm debris can hide fallen power lines. Live electrical lines may also be touching trees, fences, and other objects. The ground immediately around a downed electric line may be energized. Keep your distance.
• Take note of overhead lines before cleaning gutters, removing snow from the roof or performing other outdoor work at home. Assume overhead lines are energized, even if you’ve lost power, unless your utility or a licensed electrician informs you otherwise.
• When carrying ladders and long-handled tools, check your path to make sure you won’t cross overhead lines. Always keep yourself and your equipment at least 10 feet away from overhead lines, including lines from the pole to your home.
• Use only non-conductive ladders when working near overhead power lines.
• If you are a natural gas customer, keep any outdoor gas equipment, such as a meter, regulator or piping, clear of any accumulation of snow and ice. Use a broom rather than a shovel to avoid damaging the gas equipment. Also, when conditions are safe, check your roof and gutters to make sure there is no snow or ice buildup that can fall on your gas meter or piping, or block vents.
• Check your carbon monoxide detector to make sure the batteries are in proper working order.

Report Outages and Other Problems:

• The United Illuminating Company: 800-7-CALL-UI (1-800-722-5584)
• Southern Connecticut Gas Company: 800-513-8898
• Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation: 866-924-5325

More Information:
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