From Eversource

As part of its continuing efforts to improve storm response and enhance the safety of all the communities it serves, Eversource is launching a new effort to address the state’s significant tree issues in partnership with municipalities following storm events. The energy company is reaching out to 16

communities hardest hit by Henri seeking their partnership to survey trees near electric lines and equipment, and proactively address hazardous trees and branches before they can cause future outages and public safety issues.

“As we saw with Henri, trees continue to be the number one cause of electrical outages for our customers – in addition to causing property damage and public safety issues like blocked roads,” said Eversource Vegetation Management Manager Sean Redding. “A single tree-related outage can have a compounding effect, including broken poles, downed trees and/or wires, a broken transformer or crossarm. These outages can impact critical facilities like hospitals, police and fire stations and are labor intensive and time consuming to restore.”

In an effort to begin this post-storm work as quickly as possible to reduce the risk of outages for customers in the next major storm, Eversource’s vegetation management team is reaching out this week to seek the support and collaboration of community leaders in Burlington, Canterbury, East Haddam, Glastonbury, Griswold, Guilford, Kent, Killingly, Meriden, New Britain, Old Lyme, North Stonington, Old Saybrook, Pomfret, Voluntown and Woodstock.

For details on the company’s comprehensive vegetation management program, please visit Eversource.com.