Energy company provides preparation tips for customers

BERLIN, Conn. – With the Atlantic hurricane season officially ending today and the winter storm season just ahead, Eversource is preparing and encouraging customers to do the same. The energy company works year-round maintaining and upgrading electric lines and equipment, so it can better withstand New England’s sometimes fierce and often unpredictable weather. Eversource invests tens of millions of dollars every year to strengthen the delivery system – installing stronger poles and thicker “tree wire,” adding smart switches and smart fuses to the system that help to automatically restore power in certain situations, and installing optical ground wire that enhances communications between the electric system and the company’s operations facilities.

“Typically, light, fluffy snow doesn’t cause significant problems for the electric system.  It’s the heavy, wet snow, freezing rain or ice that can weigh down tree limbs and branches bringing them down onto our electric lines, causing power outages,” said Eversource President of Regional Electric Operations Craig Hallstrom. “We can’t prevent storms from happening, but we know our customers depend on us to restore power as quickly and safely as possible when the power does go out and we take that responsibility seriously. We monitor the weather forecast closely every day and are always prepared to respond to any damage or outages a storm may cause – whenever a storm hits - and we want our customers to be ready too.”  

Eversource encourages customers to assemble or replenish a well-stocked storm kit. Some essentials that should be included are:

• First aid supplies
• Basic tools
• Portable radio
• Flashlight and batteries
• Prescriptions
• Bottled water, one gallon per person for every day you could be without power
• List of emergency phone numbers
• Nonperishable foods, such as peanut butter and jelly, tuna and other canned goods
• Pet food and supplies

The energy company also recommends fully charging cell phones and electronic devices before a storm hits so if the power does go out, customers can get outage information and updates from the company website and social media pages – Eversource.com, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.  

For more information on storm preparation visit Eversource.com.

Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is the #1 energy company in Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2021 and recognized as one of America’s Most JUST Companies. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity to 1.27 million customers in 149 cities and towns, provides natural gas to 246,000 customers in 74 communities, and supplies water to approximately 216,000 customers in 52 communities across Connecticut. Eversource harnesses the commitment of approximately 9,300 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, the company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally-recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Tricia Taskey Modifica
860-665-4605
tricia.modifica@eversource.com

Mitch Gross
860-665-5221
mitch.gross@eversource.com

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