Report From Connecticut – An Unexceptional Performance.

Posted on | November 3, 2011 | Comments Off on Report From Connecticut – An Unexceptional Performance.

Photo: Meredith Magee Donnelly

Mike Magee

So this was my road in Woodbury, Connecticut on Saturday, October 29, 2011. That day we were at one of our grandchildren’s birthday party’s in West Hartford, CT. We both lost power. That first night we all slept in front of the fireplace at our home – by all I include 4 adults, a three year old, and two 10 month old twins. The following day, after feeding the fire every hour, and with the twins colds worsening, we bailed to our son’s home in Milford, CT. And here we remain five days later with no certain end in site.

Not let me state at the outset that we’re used to crowds of kids, parents and grandparents. I am one of 12 children and my wife is one of ten. We have more than 60 nieces and nephews. And are son and daughter -in-law couldn’t be more gracious. Still in all, when you put six adults and six kids under four under one roof, it’s a challenge.

As the Wall Street Journal made clear this week, Connecticut is an outlier when it comes to managing this and other storms and their impact on the electrical system. Connecticut Light and Power is having a problem making both light and power. Causes ? Here are 10:

1. Workforce: 20% downsized in the past 2 years.

2. Maintainence: Insufficient tree trimming.

3. Infrastructure: Nearly all above ground.

4. Relationships With Outsourced Disaster Crews: Poor – slow payment for Tropical Strom Irene Repairs.

5. Staging For Storm: No Crews Staged On Site

6. Communications: Poor – Can’t be sure when the power will return.

7. Biggest Communication Gaffe: Hard to say. Blaming the meterologists for the mess would be right up there. Or perhaps saying once again “once in a lifetime event” after using it for Irene. But top prize has to go to blaming CT citizens themselves because they “love their trees too much.”

8. Government Role; little to none. No disaster management outcome measures in place. No penalties for poor performance of utilities. “Hearings are planned.” Whew – that’s a relief!

9. State wide coordination: terrible. CT is all towns, no regional government.

10. CT Yankees: I guess they like it this way – though they are getting (more) irritable.

Any good news? Connecticut’s management of its energy sector makes health care look good!