Community Corner

Farmington Power Restoration Likely Won't Start for Two Days [Updated]

With CL&P resources directed toward the hard-hit Connecticut shore, those out in Farmington will have to wait a while.

[Update Wednesday 9:00 a.m.] Wednesday morning the number had dropped to 670 customers out - that's 5 percent and half of what it was Tuesday morning. 

[Update Tuesday 9:30 p.m.] Despite estimates that power restoration efforts wouldn't even begin for two days, of the 10 percent of Farmington residents who were without power Tuesday morning, 4 percent saw power come back by Tuesday night. That leaves 6 percent - or 776 customers - without power.

[Update Tuesday 5 p.m.] Electricity has been restored to Farmington center area around Routes 4 and 10, the area officials were targeting as the town's highest priority. According to Town Council Chairman Jeff Hogan, the thanks goes to Town Manager Kathy Eagen and Police Chief Paul Melanson.

Find out what's happening in Farmingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"They were able to requisition a crew to restore power to the light at Routes 4 and 10 and to Noah Wallace School," Hogan said. "Because of their advocacy they were able to get this done."

School Superintendent Kathleen Greider sent word to parents shortly beforehand that Farmington schools would be open Wednesday, with the exception of Noah Wallace, which had no power; parents would be notified later as to whether that school would be open, depending on the power situation. 

Find out what's happening in Farmingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Hogan noted that the special exception to get power restored to the area was made based on safety and that the timeline for remaining power restoration would still be 48 hours.

Original story: Power restoration efforts in Farmington won't start for another 48 hours at least.

That's the word from senior management at Connecticut Light & Power that Farmington officials got Tuesday after pressing for an answer on what to expect.

"We weren’t getting adequate response from our local person - who was very nice - from CL&P, so we went up the ladder a little bit to the regional person," said Town Council Chairman Jeff Hogan Tuesday afternoon. "His response was very simple: restoration efforts for the balance of town and anyone in the valley will not commence for another 48 hours."

The problem is a matter of resources. With much of the state devastated by Hurricane Sandy and some communities entirely in the dark, much of the utility's resources are occupied. 

They have limited resources in towns up here because so much is going on. There the problems are the worst - they still have activated power lines on the shore," Hogan explained.

Farmington does have one dedicated crew in town, which has been stationed here since before the storm, but that crew is currently working on priority issues like downed wires.

"CL&P get reports from people individually if a service has been ripped off a house and a wire is on the ground. That's considered a priority. So basically they're responding to those situations first, before they restore entire circuits," Hogan explained.

And CL&P officials have said they can't begin work until the valley's 911 emergency issues - like wires down - are taken care of. To that end, Hogan said Town Manager Kathy Eagen and Public Works Director Russ Arnold have spent the day surveying the town. Those issues have mostly been resolved in Farmington. 

In addition, crews have to diagnose the issues that have interrupted power. 

Power issues exist on Hyde Road, Route 10, Lake Garda, West Avon Road, Williamsburg, Lovely Street and in East Farms, among others.

But the priority is Route 10, for a number of reasons. 

First, the intersection, without a functional traffic light, is dangerous, Hogan said and there will be a police presence Wednesday morning to direct traffic.

Second, Noah Wallace School is on the same line and school cannot resume there until power is restored. Farmington schools, all except Noah Wallace, will be open Wednesday.

Finally, Hogan, said, the power situation requires a little perspective.

"We're doing everything we can to get it restored," he said. "But knowing the situation on the coast, we have to be a little bit considerate as well."


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