Eversource Bumps Up Restoration for Some Customers by 24 Hours

BOSTON — Thousands of Eversource crews, contractors and support personnel are working non-stop to restore power to customers affected by Friday’s devastating Nor’easter. Together with hundreds of private tree and line crews, Eversource employees from across the company’s three-state service area have converged on Southeastern Massachusetts, with the goal of substantially completing the restoration effort by Tuesday evening.

“Our repair and restoration effort after such a violent storm is a demanding task for crews and support personnel, especially on Cape Cod, the South Shore, and the SouthCoast, where the damage was so bad entire sections of the electric system are having to be rebuilt,” said Eversource Vice President of Electric Operations Doug Foley. “Thanks to the tireless work of the thousands of employees and contractors we’ve dedicated to this restoration, we’re able to move up our original estimated restoration time for most customers by about 24 hours.”

Eversource is working closely with local communities across its Eastern Massachusetts service area on prioritizing repairs to electrical circuits that serve public schools. The company is committed to having power restored to all public schools in time for classes to resume on Monday morning, and is prepared to connect back-up generators at some locations to accomplish this if necessary. Any decisions to open schools are made individually by local communities, which may choose to keep schools closed for other public safety reasons.

Throughout the remainder of the restoration, workers will be continuing to make the repairs necessary to restore power to many of the customers who are currently affected. In some cases, damage to customer-owned electric equipment may result in delays due to the need for private electricians.

For a detailed list of restoration time estimates, visit Eversource.com.

The company urges customers to always stay clear of downed wires and to report them immediately to 9-1-1. Any customers who are without power and using a generator are reminded to be sure the generator is located well away from their home or business and that the transfer switch is working properly.

Eversource reminds customers to report any odor of natural gas immediately to the company at 1-800-592-2000. Natural gas is non-toxic, colorless, tasteless, and odorless. A distinctive, pungent odor – similar to rotten eggs – is added so it can provide an easily recognized warning that natural gas may be in the air.

--Eversource

CURRENT PERCENTAGE OF SOUTHCOAST EVERSOURCE RESIDENTS WITHOUT POWER, PER EVERSOURCE OUTAGE MAP (as of 5:30 p.m. on 3/4/18)

Marion 79 percent

Lakeville 58 percent

Rochester 54 percent

Wareham 36 percent

Acushnet 23 percent

Mattapoisett 14 percent

Westport 14 percent

Dartmouth 13 percent

Freetown 9 percent

New Bedford 1 percent