Community Corner

Hundreds of CL&P Customers Still in the Dark in Middlefield, Durham

Officials expect power to be restored to most customers by the end of the day Wednesday.

 

Hundreds of customers in Middlefield were still waiting for their electricity to come back Wednesday morning and some weren't happy about it, according to First Selectman Jon Brayshaw.

Brayshaw, who was discouraged to learn that nearly a quarter of the town's residents, 517 to be exact, were still without power 48-hours after Hurricane Sandy hit the state, said residents started showing up at Town Hall to air their frustration. 

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

"You feel for these people," Brayshaw said at a 9 a.m. briefing on the restoration efforts at Durham's Emergency Operations Center.

CL&P crews were expected to resume work in the town Wednesday afternoon, according to one town official. The company is awaiting the installation of a new power pole at Lake Beseck by AT&T, the official said.

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

Some customers in the lake community whose power had been restored after the storm lost power again when crews were forced to shut off electricity to make repairs.

Brian Dumas, the town's emergency management director said water and Meals Ready to Eat would be provided Wednesday afternoon at the Community Center.

"They can go there if they need a place to get warm," he said.

In Durham, CL&P crews were busy fixing a power line along Maple Avenue around 9 a.m. and by 11 a.m., the crew had moved to Edwards Road where downed power lines were impacting about 40 homes.

On Tuesday, crews called to repair a transformer in the area were forced to wait while the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection contained a spill resulting from the damage.

Town officials from both towns expected significant progress on Wednesday.

A shelter remains open at Haddam Killingworth Middle School for showers, water and charging.


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