CL&P: “We Have Missed Our Goal”

Some homes may not have power until Wednesday.

Nine days after a rare October winter storm crippled Connecticut,  52,000 Connecticut Light & Power  customers remained in the dark Monday morning.

"We have missed our goal, and for that I apologize to everyone," said Jeff Butler, President and COO of CL&P.

Butler had promised the utility would restore power to 99 percent of customers in each town affected by Sunday night.  He said he now expected to achieve 99 percent restoration by Monday night, but wouldn't reach 100 percent until Wednesday evening.

Governor Dannel Malloy issued a release on early Sunday stating that CL&P would not meet the Sunday night deadline. The governor said he was releasing the information because towns and cities need to make preparations based on the reality of the situation.

"To say I'm frustrated and angry is an understatement," Malloy said. 

Plans are already underfoot for an independent review of CL&P’s handling of the recovery effort after it is over. 

Malloy announced Friday former FEMA director James Lee Witt will look into the situation. On Sunday Attorney General George Jespsen also announced that he will be reviewing how the utility company handled the storm. Butler said he welcomed the review.

CL&P has more than 2,313 tree and line crews working in the state.

Butler says CL&P will waive late fees for people who haven't been able to pay their October light bill. No one will be intentionally shut off for not paying.

At least 10 deaths are being attributed to the storm that dumped nearly two feet of snow in some areas of the state.  The storm last Saturday knocked out power to more than 900,000 CL&P and United Illuminating customers.

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