Connecticut Attorney General's Office

Press Release

Attorney General Questions Utilities, Urges Immediate Special DPUC Investigative Proceeding Into Power And Phone Outage Response

March 18, 2010

            Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today has formally called for the Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) to establish an urgent, separate and special investigative proceeding to determine whether utility companies adequately responded to massive storm-related power and phone outages that remain ongoing.

            Blumenthal has also initiated his own investigation, parallel to the DPUC’s efforts. He has requested information directly from Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P), United Illuminating (UI) and AT&T about their efforts to promptly restore power and phone service in order to protect public safety.

            In a formal letter to the DPUC, Blumenthal said the DPUC should not fold their power outage response review into an ongoing CL&P rate proceeding.

“Lengthy delays in restoring service sparked understandable anger and anxiety,” Blumenthal said. “The question widely asked is what the reasons were -- including possible limits on worker hours to save costs, not assure safety. A separate special investigation should give us answers sooner.”

            The ongoing rate proceeding is already underway, involves numerous other issues and would fail to allow the DPUC to also assess UI’s and AT&T’s response to outages as well.

            Blumenthal said this matter deserves an immediate and separate proceeding to determine whether health, public safety and service were given priority over company profits.

He said a comprehensive review of the utilities’ response to the storm should include public hearings in the areas directly affected by the storm.

“This deadly and destructive storm continues to threaten the health and safety of thousands of our residents,” Blumenthal said. “In the aftermath of this storm, even as power and phone service is restored, I have received many complaints -- from residents, workers and public officials -- as to the adequacy and efficacy of the electric and phone companies’ response to this emergency.

            “There must be an immediate investigation of the charge that CL&P, UI and AT&T placed higher priority on minimizing overtime costs than on the quick restoration of power and phone service. Indeed, Governor Rell has directed the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security to evaluate the adequacy of the distribution companies’ response to this emergency and assigned the DPUC to participate in that review.

            “Any review must include public hearings in the areas directly affected by this storm as well as a thorough technical evaluation of storm damage and the timeliness and adequacy of the distribution and phone companies’ response.

            “Ultimate authority to act belongs to the DPUC, but this investigative effort and possible hearings will help assure transparency and information important to public confidence.”