I am still trying to come to grips with last week’s extended power failure and the long days that my family and I spent freezing while sitting in the dark. I am trying not to blame the power company but I am having a difficult time letting them off the hook.
It was 2 ½ days before we even saw any crews working in the town. I understand that this was an extreme weather event that caused so much damage the power companies were crippled in their ability to respond but they really need to stop playing that card and move on.
The other day National Grid was at a town meeting in Foxboro to listen to the complaints of residents who have suffered through two major power outages within just a few months of each other. Of course, the reps. from National Grid blamed these unusual and extreme weather events on Mother Nature and they really had nothing else to say. Instead, they just stood there while they were repeatedly berated by outraged customers.
I really feel as though all the power companies are clueless! It does not take a genius to realize that global warming and extreme weather phenomenon are here to stay. We only need to look back over the past six month here in New England where we have had tornados, an earthquake, a hurricane and a Nor’easter. Let’s not even get into the global events over the past year! With that said the power companies need to be looking forward and coming up with a strategic plan to deal with these extreme events. I don’t believe the power companies are doing enough to plan for these situations. I have yet to see them issue any type of statement that they are investigating preventive alternatives or ways they can quicken the response time when reacting to a disaster situation.
I personally think that each town and city should pursue establishing their own utility services. I know that currently only a few communities have the capability but I saw on the news that the state is considering changing the laws to allow this possibility.
Submitted by Judith McCormack
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