Newsflash! Northborough Doesn't Lose Power!

For the first time in as long as town residents can remember, a major storm didn't cut out power for anyone.

Anna Munro said she got out of town for the Blizzard of 2013 because she expected she'd lose power. She was thrilled to know that she didn't. In fact, no one in Northborough did. Ask anyone in Northborough what their number one concern is during a storm is and they'll tell you, "Not losing power." Granted, that's a major issue for anyone. But in Northborough, losing power feels like the norm to many. Board members joke, in an irritated way, about it during meetings. Residents complain relentlessly about it during and after a storm. The Attorney General's office clamped down on National Grid, slapping the utility company with a fine after what was deemed a "mishandling of Tropical Storm Irene." National Grid, around here, has a reputation, …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (2)

National Grid Responding to Blizzard of 2013

The storm left 'significant damage in some areas.'

Submitted by National Grid In the Blizzard of 2013 hit New England with full force yesterday and through this morning, delivering up to two feet of snow and hurricane force winds, National Grid met the storm with a full complement of crews, plans and preparations. The storm left significant damage in some areas, particularly southern Rhode Island and the South Shore and southeastern MA. At the height of the storm, a total of more than 350,000 customers were without power in both states. As of 3 p.m. today, that number was reduced to approximately 307,000 customers – 131,000 in Mass. and 176,000 in Rhode Island. The high winds and horizontal snow generated more than 2,000 reports of wires down in Rhode Island and 1,400 in Massachusetts. …

• Photos (1)

National Grid Restoring Power to NE Customers; Small Number in Northborough Affected

National Grid is working to restore power knocked out by the forceful winds.

Information submitted by National Grid National Grid crews are out in full force in Massachusetts and Rhode Island restoring power to customers after damaging winds – including hurricane-force gusts –lashed the region overnight and this morning. According to Kathy Lyford, National Grid vice president, New England Operations, the winds affected a large area of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. At the peak, more than 32,000 National Grid customers in Massachusetts and roughly 25,000 Rhode Island customers were without power. As of noon, National Grid's outage map listed 72 without power in town. National Grid crews, who are being assisted by additional outside crews, are making progress removing downed trees and tree limbs and repairing …

• Photos (1)

Outages Affect More Than 200

Most are in the West Main at Crawford street area.

More than 200 National Grid customers in Northborough are without electricity on Christmas Eve. Most of these, 204, are in the West Main at Crawford street area, according to National Grid's outage map. This area lost power at 10:59 a.m. National Grid estimates the outage ending at 1:15 p.m. Northborough also has a handful of outages affecting less than 15 customers each. They're in the South Street area, and West Main near Bartlett streets. These outages are expected to end by mid-afternoon, National Grid says.

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

UPDATE: Ice Storm Knocks Out Power to More than 200

National Grid is working to restore power.

Update (2:55 p.m.): National Grid reported that a portion of a tree came down on Lincoln Street at approximately 1:15 p.m., taking down a power line. The incident knocked out power to about 220 customers. National Grid expect to have the power restored by 3:30 p.m. "We have a crew out there working on it now," said David Graves, spokesperson for National Grid.  Original post: It is rather rare that Northborough escapes a storm without any power outages, residents will tell you. On Monday, schools had a two hour delay, and residents were reporting power outages around town. Karen Lavoie reported that power went out at 1:13 p.m. on Leland Ave. and is "still off" (at 2:15 p.m.), adding that National Grid is repairing a downed wire on Lincoln …

• Photos (1)

State Fines Utilities Millions for 2011 Storm Responses

National Grid was fined nearly $19 million, the highest fine levied against utilities in Massachusetts.

The state on Tuesday ordered a total of $24.8 million in penalties to utility companies for their response to storms in 2011. Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan joined Department of Public Utilities (DPU) Chairman Ann Berwick and DPU commissioners today to announce the findings of the DPU’s investigation into responses to Tropical Storm Irene and the October 2011 snowstorm. Provided the penalties hold up, customers should see a reduction in their bill, though it is unclear how much, officials said.  National Grid faces the steepest penalty, at $18.725 million. NSTAR has been ordered to pay $4.075 million, while the Western Massachusetts Electric Company faces a $2 million penalty. National Grid told the …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)

Mary MacDonald

6:14 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

The DPU is a regulatory agency. It has some authority over private companies, including water companies. The same agency is required to approve any water rate increase, such as in Milford, where the utility is a private company.   more ›

Pepper's Heeds the Call to Help Sandy Victims

The local catering company stepped it up and brought help to those affected by the storm.

This piece was written, and sent, courtesy of Chef John Lawrence of Pepper's Catering “Frankenstorm” Sandy wreaked havoc and tragedy on millions of people living along the East Coast. Our hearts go out to those who lost friends and love ones. There is no doubt that it will take millions of laborers of all types and trades, to assist in bringing people’s lives back to normal. Pepper's Fine Catering got the call the day before the storm hit for a very unique corporate catering opportunity. To help workers weather the aftermath of the storm, Pepper's dispatched and mobilized to set up a temporary kitchen that would feed over 200 linemen and tree trimmers working to restore power in Western Massachusetts. A team of six were deployed to …

• Photos (10)

You Ask, Patch Answers

National Grid Says It's Ready, But Is Northborough Confident?

Northborough residents have an impression that their power is restored much slower than other surrounding towns. Is it true?

National Grid is ready to respond to any power outages that may occur as a result of the high winds, heavy rain, and even some heavy wet snow from a nor’easter that will affect Massachusetts and Rhode Island today and overnight tonight, the company stated in a press release issued on Wednesday. It added that "more than 500 National Grid and supplemental line and tree crews are available and ready to respond quickly to any storm-related outages, along with more than 200 'wires-down' personnel. With the first snowflakes headed our way, and off the heels of yet another power-knocking storm two weeks ago by the name of Sandy, Northborough residents are concerned with the response of the town's utility company.  Selectman Leslie Rutan expressed…

• Photos (1)

TELL US: Did NStar, National Grid Perform Well During Hurricane Sandy?

The two utility companies have had complaints in recent storms—Hurricane Irene and Snowtober—but say they stepped it up for Sandy.

Hurricane Sandy blew out of the region earlier this week, but not without causing massive power outages, some of which have yet to be fixed.  Both National Grid and NStar say they did a better, faster job in fixing power outages than in previous storms, according to WBUR. Not everyone agrees, however. According to the story, Newton Mayor Setti Warren said NStar was faster, but there's still work to be done. Gov. Deval Patrick also told WBUR the companies worked faster, but said a "total victory" can't be declared. Do you agree? Have they improved since the last storm? Or is there still work to be done? Tell us in the comments.

•  6 Comments
• Photos (1)

By the Numbers

UPDATED: Power Restored to Many; 674 Still Without

National Grid works around the clock to bring all the power back to Northborough.

While customers still without power are undoubtedly frustrated, National Grid has restored a large portion of homes originally hit by the outage during Hurricane Sandy. The number at 10 a.m. on Wednesday sits at 674 still withouth. National Grid serves 6,559 Northborough customers. Debbie Drew, spokesperson for National Grid, said crews are out in full force working on restoration. Remaining areas without service are concentrated south of Route 20 near the Northborough border, and also close to Route 9. There are two "feeder lines" presenting trouble, said Drew, and one has approximately 500 customers on it; the other has about 100. "When one feeder gets picked up, that chunk of 500 will come back," said Drew. "That's how it will work." At…

• Photos (1)