To ensure the continued safe, reliable delivery of natural gas to our customers, we are replacing more than 2,300 feet of leak-prone cast iron and bare steel gas lines in Winsted with newer, high-density plastic pipe – which is safer, more durable, and will last for decades. Since 2018, we have replaced nearly 200 miles of aging gas main around the state.

This work falls under the state’s accelerated replacement program and supports long-term reliability for a fuel source that thousands of people depend on, especially in the winter. These substantial investments are a critical component and significant driver of our proposed rate change application, which was filed late last year due to Connecticut regulators requiring a rate review of our natural gas operations. Stable, predictable and steady investments like this are necessary to ensure all customers have safe and reliable natural gas service. The proposed rate adjustment allows us to recover the cost of past investments and continue making future investments that are needed to replace aging components of the natural gas system, maintain public safety and improve reliability.

The Winsted upgrade project will begin in May with construction crews working between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Work will be done along Main Street, Case Avenue and Union Street. As part of the project, dozens of customers’ gas service lines will be replaced and a majority of those homes and businesses with inside gas meters will be moved outside.

We continue to communicate and work closely with community leaders and customers where the projects are being done to minimize potential impacts to traffic and coordinate with other roadwork happening in the community. Customers may experience a short disruption to their natural gas service when the new line is being activated, and they will be notified in advance by letter, phone or an in-person visit. Weather permitting, this gas line improvement work is expected to be completed by August with final road restoration completed sometime after that.