I am pretty sure this will not catch any readers by surprise, but I would like to register my extreme displeasure with Eversource’s and Optimum’s performance responding to Esaias.
It used to be that CL&P coordinated with New Canaan’s Emergency Operations Center. That appears to be much less the case in the aftermath of Isaias.
And eight days into the outage, I spent 60 minutes on Optimum’s chat line (2-3 minutes was the initial promise) only to be told Optimum could not even provide a rough estimate of when my street might get cable and Internet back.
I suggested that Altice USA (corporate parent of Optimum) CEO Dexter Goei contribute some of his $15-$20 million annual compensation to help crews more quickly restore service.
Ha!
John Hutchins
Unfortunately, the First Selectman requested the resignation of the towns’ long standing and by all accounts extremely effective and seasoned EOC leader Mike Handler. I strongly suspect that the Town’s poor response to Isaias is a direct result.
Be sure to include this note to PURA hearing if you’ve not yet done so, John. Not sure what good it will ultimately do, but it is a start.
On Monday, August 24 at 10 a.m., the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) is holding a public hearing via Zoom concerning Eversource. I encourage anyone interested to submit testimony and join me in standing up to this monopoly that too often lets customers down.
To submit testimony, please email your comments to pura.information@ct.gov, mentioning Docket Number 20-01-01 in the subject line, or mail them to the following mailing address:
Public Utilities Regulatory Authority
10 Franklin Square
New Britain, Connecticut 06051
To attend or participate in the Zoom hearing, please register here: https://ctdeep.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYqcO2urTosGtGf4iMYOF9fUA1xdzNgkD_6.
I agree! For example, if the EOC had better coordinated with Eversource,
Heritage Hill Road, which is probably the most densely populated area in New Canaan, would not have been left without power for 5 days – this is also an area that is home to so many elderly, who are most vulnerable because so many live alone and experience more health issues and mental confusion
than the general population.
I lost internet one day per week for 2 consecutive weeks in July. Out of sheer frustration I wrote an email to Dexter Goei. A representative called me next day and gave an email where she could be reached if I faced issues. Isaias came, I reached out requesting an ETA for restoration and received a standard response that New Canaan had an outage (surprise!) and no ETA. Internet was finally restored after 7 days. Optimum does not care. We need fios in New Canaan if we continue to work and kids learn remotely.