After Sandy: PURA to Hold East Haven Public Hearing On Storm Response

Did local utiltiy companies perform well before, during and after late October's Hurricane Sandy?

East Haven residents and others will be able to pass along their thoughts to state regulators on how United Illuminating, Connecticut Light & Power and others peformed during the storm at an upcoming public hearing here in town early next month.

Public Hearing Dates

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has scheduled a total of three public hearings on the preparation and response of Connecticut’s electric distribution companies and gas companies in restoring service following the storm.

The hearings will be held on: 

• Jan. 3 at 6:30 p.m. – Senior Center, 91 Taylor Avenue, East Haven 
• Jan. 7 at 6:30 p.m. – Town Hall, 110 Myrtle Avenue, Westport
• Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m. – Town Hall, 15 Rope Ferry Road, Waterford

Investigation Required by State Law

Gov. Dannel Malloy’s Storm Legislation, Public Act 12-148, requires PURA "to review utility company performance when more than 10 per cent of an electric distribution company’s customers are without service for more than 48 consecutive hours, which was the case during Storm Sandy," the agency stated in a press release Thursday.

The investigation will cover the following Connecticut utility companies:

• Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P)
• United Illuminating Company (UI)
• Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation
• Yankee Gas Services Company
• Southern Connecticut Gas Company

Information on this investigation, Docket No. 12-11-07, including all documents and rulings, can be found at www.ct.gov/pura.  

'Forensic Review'

Ever since Hurricane Gloria slammed into the state in 1985, the state's standard regulatory investigation following major storms includes a forensic review of the performance of the electric distribution companies and the gas local distribution companies, according to PURA.

"Their performance will be evaluated against the Gas and Electric Company Performance Standards PURA recently approved," the agency reported in its press release. 

Those standards include:  

• Emergency planning
• Preparation for the specific storm
• Restoration performance
• Plans for mutual assistance and supplemental staff
• Communications with municipal and other public officials

Written, Emailed Comments Also Welcome

"PURA invites written and electronic comments from the public, including town officials, regarding their experience with the electric and natural gas utility companies in the aftermath of Storm Sandy," the agency stated.

Comments will be accepted until the close of the administrative record of Docket No. 12-11-07. 

Anyone wishing to comment on the docket can do so through the scheduled public hearings, the PURA web filing system at www.ct.gov/pura, by email at dpuc.executivesecretary@po.state.ct.us, or by sending written comments to:

Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority
Executive Secretary’s Office
10 Franklin Square,
New Britain, CT 06051  

"At the conclusion of this investigation the authority may order specific remedies, compliance filings and orders," the agency stated. "In addition, PURA may determine whether other sanctions are warranted."