Bethel First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker reports that the Eversource outage map indicates all major storm damage has been repaired and just under 100% connectivity within Bethel. If your home does not have power at this point, please notify Eversource via their website or customer service line (1-800-286-2000). There may be a problem not related to storm damage.
Knickerbocker offers gratitude to the team at Bethel Town Hall who has been on duty or on call for pretty much 24 hours per day, providing services to town residents and doing their best to help Eversource coordinate their resources to get our town cleared of damaged wires, downed trees and get back online. "This includes Tom Galliford, Emergency Operations Director, Tom Villa, Acting Director of Public Works, Eileen Earl, Director of Parks & Recreation, Bob Dibble. Assist. Director of Public Works and Superintendent of Highways and office administrator, Dionne Craig who has been handling inbound phone calls and official communications with the community. We are very fortunate to have these dedicated people working for our community," he says.
Knickerbocker has publicly expressed my extreme dissatisfaction with Eversource's preplanning and slow storm response. "I do not intend to let this go now that we're back to normal," he says.
Governor Lamont has asked the state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to open a formal investigation into Eversource's planning and state of readiness to handle storms of this nature, and Knickerbocker says that he fully supports that effort. In addition, the state's Attorney General, William Tong has also announced an investigation by his office into the possibility of civil penalties against the company.
Public Utilities Regulatory Authority
10 Franklin Square
New Britain, CT 0605
Your letters may also be emailed at pura.information@ct.gov
In addition, PURA will conduct a public hearing via Zoom on August 24th to hear input on Eversource's recent request for a rate increase. You may register to participate in the public hearing with this link: https://ctdeep.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYqcO2urTosGtGf4iMYOF9fUA1xdzNgkD_6
Or you may submit written testimony on their request via the address or email links above. Please reference docket number 20-01-01.