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James Mosher/ NorwichBulletin.com
Connecticut Light & Power Co. crews work Friday morning on Stoddards Wharf Road in Ledyard.
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Mashantucket, Conn.
Connecticut Light & Power Co. has heard the frustration of customers who were without power for many days after two storms last year and is implementing a six-point strategy designed to improve performance, an executive said Friday.
Preparedness was at the top of the list presented by Dana Louth, vice president of asset strategy at Northeast Utilities, CL&P’s parent company. But Louth said communication is the area that needs the most improvement.
“Our goal for the next storm is for all towns to have a positive experience in terms of communications,” Louth said during a CL&P large customers conference at MGM Grand at Foxwoods. “We’re in a much better position should we have another (storm), especially in terms of communications.”
The utility was criticized for its performance during Tropical Storm Irene in August and the October snowstorm, which resulted in the two largest outages in state history. Negative reviews, including some from elected leaders in New London and Windham counties, contributed to the resignation of Jeff Butler, CL&P’s president and chief operating officer, as well as state government reviews and a report from a consulting firm.
Louth’s presentation was not much different from one he gave to the Two Storm Panel formed by the Malloy administration, said Sprague First Selectman Catherine Osten, who was on the panel. But she sees the company “making progress.”
“He made a nice case for what they’re trying to do,” Osten said. “I like what I’m hearing, but only time will tell if they’re ready for a big storm.”
Planning meetings
CL&P town liaisons and account executives will meet this month and in March to coordinate tree-trimming and road-clearing plans with municipal leaders, Louth said.
He said CL&P will respect people’s views about preserving nature.
“We understand people in Connecticut like their trees,” Louth said.
The company plans $2.2 billion in investments over 10 years that will cover tree trimming, placing some lines underground, and better protection for transformers and wires. Rates will have to be raised about 1 percent per year to cover the costs, Louth said.
“The company feels this is a good investment for the customers,” he said.
The program will enable storm outages to be reduced between 30 percent and 40 percent from Tropical Storm Irene levels, Louth said.
“Yes, we can reduce vulnerability to outages,” he said.
CL&P is “very supportive” of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s plans for a statewide storm drill, Louth said. Malloy’s suggestion for spending $5 million to develop “micro-grid” or decentralized electricity generation, is prompting the utility to search for a college partner to explore that along with using fuel cells to produce electricity.
Osten said she was pleased to learn CL&P plans to reduce transmission charges.