Better electrical line reliability expected early next year

Emails from Town Administrator Kristine Trierweiler and Representative Denise Garlick this morning pushing for improvements to the electrical lines, given seven power outages in the last seven storms in the Main Street and Causeway Street areas, and an initial report –

I met with Eversource this AM, they have identified several issues including engineering and vegetation management. I have asked them to summarize the issues in a memo to me that I will share with the Board as soon as I have it. The engineering design change won’t happen until the first quarter of 2021, Chief Carrico and I requested that be moved up based on the past seven storm outages. I will update you as soon as I receive the memo from Eversource. 

KT

———- Forwarded message ———
From: Garlick, Denise – Rep. (HOU) <Denise.Garlick@mahouse.gov>
Date: Wed, Dec 16, 2020 at 10:36 AM
Subject: Concerns About Medfield Power Outages and Tree Maintenance

The Office of State Representative Denise C. Garlick 

Vice Chair, House Committee on Ways and Means
State House | Boston, MA 02133 

Phone: (617) 722-2380 | Fax: (617) 722-2847 

E-mail: Denise.Garlick@mahouse.gov 

December 16, 2020 

Mr. Jared Blandino  

Community Relations and Economic 

Development Specialist 

Eversource 

Dear Jared, 

As the State Delegation representing the town of Medfield, we are writing to express serious concerns about frequent power outages in Medfield as well as a lack of tree maintenance near power lines.  

We are very worried that the Causeway/Main Street section of town has lost power in the last 7 out of 7 storms.  We understand that in cases of major storms, power outages are inevitable, but to lose power during every single storm is unacceptable to the residents, business owners, town leaders, and to us.  The timing could not be worse as so many are now home working remotely and/or have children and teenagers home trying to learn remotely.  Reliable residential power is essential now more than ever. 

We are also concerned over a lack of tree maintenance near power lines.  There are branches and limbs hanging over and on wires which we believe has contributed to power outages in other neighborhoods over the past several months.  This is a significant concern as we head into the winter months where heavy snow can bring those branches down and the power lines with it. 

By December 20^th, can you please send us Eversource’s Tree Maintenance Plan for Medfield?  We would like to see that there is an adequate plan in place to trim branches and limbs before we start to feel the full impact of a New England winter.  Also, can you provide us with plans for resolving the issue that is causing the power outages in the Causeway/Main Street section of town?   We do not want our constituents to face any more time without power as the temperatures begin to drop. 

Any correspondence can be directed to Representative Garlick at denise.garlick@mahouse.gov, and it will be shared with the entire delegation.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation. 

Sincerely, 

Representative Denise Garlick 

Representative Shawn C. Dooley 

Senator Paul R. Feeney 

Cc:  Kristine Trierweiler, Town of Medfield