News Release

CL&P Explains Who Owns What
Make sure your home electrical equipment
is ready for reconnection

BERLIN, Conn. - November 1, 2011 - As CL&P works to restore power across the state, homeowners should be aware that any damage to customer-owned equipment must be repaired by licensed, professional electricians before we can reconnect power lines to your home.

CL&P will repair the equipment leading to your home, including the service wire and connectors. Homeowners are responsible for all other equipment attached to a residence, including a clevis (house knob), weatherheads, conduits, conductors and the meter box. However, you are not responsible for damage to the meter.

If repairs are required beyond a simple reattachment of your electrical service to your home, please contact a properly licensed and insured electrical contractor to perform the necessary repairs. This should expedite your service restoration.

In the meantime, some 900 line and tree crews are at work today across the state.  Crews have come from as far away as Alabama, California and British Columbia to aid in the restoration efforts and additional crews continue to arrive.

CL&P reminds customers using generators to power their homes and businesses to only set them up outdoors.  Never use a generator indoors, in an attached garage, a basement, or a crawl space. Avoid using a generator in a partially enclosed inhabited space, even if it is ventilated.  Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent carbon monoxide build-up.  When placing it outdoors, make sure the generator is far from a home's doors, windows and vents.  Customers should also have a qualified electrician connect the generator with a transfer switch, so that it is not connected directly to your home’s wiring, otherwise, power can "backfeed," or flow back into the power lines, creating a dangerous situation for the public and for our line crews who may be working nearby.
 
To report or check on an outage – Visit cl-p.com or call 800-286-2000. Our automated phone and online systems can rapidly process your report and help us speed restoration efforts. For helpful tips and news updates, go to our website at cl-p.com, follow us on Twitter @CTLightandPower and “like” us at Facebook.com/CTLightandPower. You can also get updates on outages in your town by texting “outage” and your zip code to 24612 (texting fees may apply).