The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) announced it will conduct a series of eight public meetings across the state, including two in the MetroWest, to gather public comments on storm preparation and power restoration efforts by NSTAR and National Grid in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene, which made landfall on August 28, 2011.
National Grid
Tuesday, Nov. 1, 7 p.m.
Trottier Middle School
49 Parkerville Road, Southborough
NSTAR
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 7 p.m.
Walsh Middle School Auditorium
301 Brook Street, Framingham
The DPU will hold four meetings in each company’s service territory and will collect written public comment until 5 p.m. on November 23, 2011. The DPU is holding hearings in the hardest hit regions of each company’s service territory and encourages customers to attend any of the four meetings as well as submit written comments. Written comments can be sent to Mark D. Marini:
Mark D. Marini, Secretary
Department of Public Utilities
One South Station, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02110
The DPU is reviewing each company’s 30-day post-storm report, which was due on October 3. In response to customer and municipal concerns, the DPU also opened investigations on September 15 into National Grid and NSTAR’s storm response focusing on the companies’ efforts to restore electric power, including their communications with affected communities. The investigations will determine whether the companies complied with DPU regulations and fully implemented their Emergency Response Plans, which were last filed in May 2011.
The DPU’s investigations are focused on compliance with DPU’s performance standards for emergency preparation and restoration of service, including:
- (1) preparation for and management of the restoration efforts with respect to Tropical Storm Irene;
- (2) allocation of company resources in the affected communities;
- (3) communications with state, local municipal and public safety officials, and with the department;
- (4) dissemination of timely information to the public; and
- (5) identification of company practices requiring improvement, if any.
More details about the DPU’s investigation and the other hearing locations can be found on their website.