Tag:

Tropical Storm Isaias

Massapequa, NY
News
NY Utility Companies Agree To Pay $86M In Settlements For Failed Isaias Response NY Utility Companies Agree To Pay $86M In Settlements For Failed Isaias Response
NY Utility Companies Agree To Pay $86M In Settlements For Failed Isaias Response The failed response by utility companies in New York during Tropical Storm Isaias is going to prove costly. Terms of settlements totaling $86.2 million have been agreed upon with the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) for alleged violations committed as the storm swept across the state. Specifically, Con Edison, Orange & Rockland Utilities, Central Hudson Gas and Electric, and Frontier Communications of New York will pay for failing to adequately prepare for and respond to emergencies, including Tropical Storm Isaias in 2020.  Related story - Isaias: Utility Companies…

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by Zak Failla
Brookfield, CT
News
Eversource Fined $29 Million For Isaias Response Eversource Fined $29 Million For Isaias Response
Eversource Fined $29 Million For Isaias Response Eversource is among the latest utility company to face millions in fines for its response during and after Tropical Storm Isaias. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) imposed a $29 million penalty against Eversource for what the company described as failures during the storm. Related story - NY Utility Companies Agree To Pay $86M In Settlements For Failed Isaias Response The fine comes the same week as four major utility companies in neighboring New York were hit with more than $86 million in fines for their response to Isaias. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, who…

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by Zak Failla
Torrington, CT
News
Eversource Investing $72 Million In Tree Trimming Across Connecticut Eversource Investing $72 Million In Tree Trimming Across Connecticut
Eversource Investing $72 Million In Tree Trimming Across Connecticut Following last year's devastation caused by Tropical Storm Isaias last year which brought down thousands of trees, Eversource is announcing a large tree maintenance program to be ready for the summer storms. In 2021, the energy company will be investing approximately $72 million in tree trimming and hazardous tree removal to enhance reliability for customers throughout Connecticut, company officials said. The company is also encouraging customers to maintain trees on their own property that can interfere with electric lines or equipment. “As we saw last summer during some severe storms, tr…

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by Kathy Reakes
Mount Pleasant, NY
News
NY Reaches Record Settlement With Broadband/Cable Provider Altice Over Tropical Storm Response NY Reaches Record Settlement With Broadband/Cable Provider Altice Over Tropical Storm Response
NY Reaches Record Settlement With Broadband/Cable Provider Altice Over Tropical Storm Response New York State has reached a record-setting settlement with broadband and cable provider Altice for the company’s muted response to Tropical Storm Isaias, which left some without service for upwards of two weeks. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Thursday, March 18 that the state has reached the near $72 million settlement for Altice’s failure to adequately prepare for and restore broadband and cable television service after the storm struck in August last year, leaving 400,000 customers without service. The settlement is the largest-ever in New York State for any company under …

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by Zak Failla
Hartford, CT
News
CT AG Wants Eversource To Pay For August Storm Failures CT AG Wants Eversource To Pay For August Storm Failures
CT AG Wants Eversource To Pay For August Storm Failures Connecticut Attorney General William Tong is calling on Eversource to pay penalties and for damages caused by Tropical Storm Isaias last summer. Calling Eversource’s failure to communicate and protect public safety during and after the storm “imprudent,” Tong said that the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) should mandate consumer credits and make all findings necessary to levy penalties. Last August, Isaias left more than 100,000 Eversource customers without power for several days, some more than week, which drew the ire of Tong and other elected officials in Connecticut. Accor…

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by Zak Failla
Hartford, CT
News
Higher Eversource, United Illuminating Service Charges Spark Confusion Among CT Customers Higher Eversource, United Illuminating Service Charges Spark Confusion Among CT Customers
Higher Eversource, United Illuminating Service Charges Spark Confusion Among CT Customers Eversource customers in Connecticut are opening their monthly bills to find an increase in the service charge. Increased charges that were approved by Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) in November of 2020, went into effect on Friday, Jan. 1. The hikes were okayed for Eversource as well as United Illuminating residential and business customers. Customers are just now beginning to see the effects of the change The increase for residential Eversource is in its generation service charge which went from *7.37 cents per kilowatt-hour to 8.39. There are more than 1.26 mil…

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by Kristin Palpini
Massapequa, NY
News
State Seeks $70M In Damages From PSEG Long Island For Tropical Storm Isaias Response State Seeks $70M In Damages From PSEG Long Island For Tropical Storm Isaias Response
State Seeks $70M In Damages From Pseg Long Island For Tropical Storm Isaias Response Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced the Long Island Power Authority has filed legal action against PSEG Long Island for breach of contract and its performance in response to Tropical Storm Isaias.  The complaint seeks $70 million in damages for PSEG Long Island's failure to adequately oversee outage management and communications systems from the Tuesday, Aug. 4 storm that affected more than 900,000 customers, the Governor's Office said. The suit also claims a lack of business continuity plans that would have provided a failsafe option when key systems broke down.  The filing is a dire…

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by Kathy Reakes
Massapequa, NY
Business
Isaias: Utility Companies Face Fines Of $137M After Investigation Into Storm Response Isaias: Utility Companies Face Fines Of $137M After Investigation Into Storm Response
Isaias: Utility Companies Face Fines Of $137M After Investigation Into Storm Response Utility companies in New York are facing millions in fines for their muted and unprepared response to Tropical Storm Isaias after the New York State Public Service Commission completed its months-long investigation into their responses. Con Edison, Orange & Rockland Utilities, and Central Hudson now face fines of more than $137 million in total. PSEG Long Island was investigated, and numerous failures were also found for their failures to communicate or have a proper response plan in place. PSEG’s punishment will be determined by the Long Island Power Authority Board of Trustees. Ear…

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by Zak Failla
Brentwood, NY
News
Isaias: NY State To Get $35M In Disaster Relief From Federal Government For Catastrophic Storm Isaias: NY State To Get $35M In Disaster Relief From Federal Government For Catastrophic Storm
Isaias: NY State To Get $35M In Disaster Relief From Federal Government For Catastrophic Storm Thousands were without power for as long as a week or more after Tropical Storm Isaias rocked the region in August. Now, about two months later, New York State has been granted disaster assistance from the Federal government in the tens of millions. "I spoke to the White House late this afternoon and they informed me that President Trump has reviewed the state's request for disaster assistance for the damage incurred by tropical storm Isaias, predominantly impacting Long Island," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced late Friday, Oct. 2. "The total amount of FEMA funding will be $35 million.…

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by Joe Lombardi
Fairfield, CT
News
Eversource Says Prolonged Drought Led To Downed Trees Saturated By Storm Eversource Says Prolonged Drought Led To Downed Trees Saturated By Storm
Eversource Says Prolonged Drought Led To Downed Trees Saturated By Storm A recent drought coupled with this week’s storms attributed to the downed trees and power lines that left thousands in Connecticut without power overnight. Eversource officials said that hundreds of crews worked through the night to restore power to more than 37,000 customers, though more than 7,000 of the utility company’s 1,281,966 Connecticut customers were still in the dark as of 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Earlier story - Storm Knocks Out Powers To Thousands In Connecticut Eversource President of Regional Electric Operations Craig Hallstrom said that the tough conditions - on …

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by Zak Failla
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
News
'More Than A Game:' Madison Police Surprise Family With New Basketball Hoop After Storm Isaias 'More Than A Game:' Madison Police Surprise Family With New Basketball Hoop After Storm Isaias
'More Than A Game:' Madison Police Surprise Family With New Basketball Hoop After Storm Isaias Four children from Madison whose basketball hoop was destroyed during Tropical Storm Isaias weren't sure they'd ever get another one. But Madison police, as they often do, came to the rescue. Officers surprised the family with a brand-new, portable basketball hoop Monday afternoon. Complete with a 50-inch steel-frame and shatterproof backboard, the hoop was presented to the family by Morris County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Phil Masi and Madison Borough Police Officer Kyle McDermott. Officers noticed prior to the storm that the family’s old basketball hoop had been set up at …

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by Valerie Musson
Torrington, CT
News
Eversource Removing Storm-Damaged Trees Across Connecticut Eversource Removing Storm-Damaged Trees Across Connecticut
Eversource Removing Storm-Damaged Trees Across Connecticut After over 10,000 trees toppled in July and August due to Tropical Storm Isaias and a damaging microburst, energy company Eversource is urging Connecticut homeowners to keep an eye out for precarious trees near power lines and to support their hazardous tree removal program.  Since those storms, the company said, they have removed hundreds of storm-damaged trees to prevent further power outages. “Trees are the number one cause of power outages and removing these trees is critical, especially with fierce storms happening more frequently,"  said Eversource Vegetation Management…

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by Christina Coulter
Hartford, CT
Business
Bill Requiring Food, Medicine Reimbursement Would Cause Higher Bills, Says Eversource Bill Requiring Food, Medicine Reimbursement Would Cause Higher Bills, Says Eversource
Bill Requiring Food, Medicine Reimbursement Would Cause Higher Bills, Says Eversource Under a new bill, Connecticut residents could be reimbursed up to $1,000 for spoiled food and medicine due to long power outages, but Eversource says that protection may come at a high price to customers. On Tuesday, Sept. 8, Eversource CEO Jim Judge responded to criticism that the power company took too long to restore electricity to many parts of Connecticut following the August Tropical STorm Isaias. Some customers waited 9 days for power to return. The proposed Connecticut bill would give the state’s Public Utilities Regulation Administration (PURA) the authority to require power compa…

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by Kristin Palpini
Tappan-Blauvelt, NY
News
Storms Knock Out Power To Thousands In Rockland, Orange Counties: Here's Latest Breakdown Storms Knock Out Power To Thousands In Rockland, Orange Counties: Here's Latest Breakdown
Storms Knock Out Power To Thousands In Rockland, Orange Counties: Here's Latest Breakdown Thousands of Rockland and Orange county residents are still without power a day after thunderstorms brought down trees and power lines weeks after Tropical Storm Isaias rocked the region. As of late Friday morning, Aug. 28, Orange & Rockland Utilites was reporting 52 outages that were impacting 1,199 of their 303,003 customers. In Orange County, 539 of O&R’s customers were still in the dark, with the bulk of them listed in Crawford (533). Other outages were reported in Deerpark, Middletown, Mount Hope, and Wallkill. In Rockland, outages were reported in Clarkstown, Haverstraw, and…

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by Zak Failla
Shelton, CT
News
Isaias: Lawmakers Lambaste Eversource At Hearing Isaias: Lawmakers Lambaste Eversource At Hearing
Isaias: Lawmakers Lambaste Eversource At Hearing Eversource was read the riot act by Connecticut lawmakers during a hearing regarding recent rate hikes and the company’s response to Tropical Storm Isaias. Members of the state legislative Energy & Technology Committee grilled Eversource officials, including CEO Jim Judge on Thursday, Aug. 27 after some in Connecticut were left without power for more than a week. Elected officials questioned Judge on the company’s response to the storm, its lack of preparation, and the broken down communications that happened during the storm, when thousands of customers were unable to get accurat…

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by Zak Failla
Beekman-Poughquag, NY
News
Storms Knock Out Power In Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan: Here's Latest Breakdown Storms Knock Out Power In Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan: Here's Latest Breakdown
Storms Knock Out Power In Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan: Here's Latest Breakdown Thousands in the Hudson Valley lost power overnight as thunderstorms brought down trees and power lines weeks after Tropical Storm Isaias rocked the region. As of around 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, NYSEG was still reporting 67 customers without power in Dutchess County, 343 in Sullivan County, and 15 in Ulster County. Central Hudson had 442 Dutchess customers without power, and an additional three in Ulster County, while Orange & Rockland Utilities had 639 of its 9,093 customers in Sullivan County still without power. In Dutchess, outages were reported in Amenia (806), Washington (210)…

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by Zak Failla
White Plains, NY
News
Storms Knock Out Power In Putnam, Westchester: Here's Latest Breakdown Storms Knock Out Power In Putnam, Westchester: Here's Latest Breakdown
Storms Knock Out Power In Putnam, Westchester: Here's Latest Breakdown Hundreds of Westchester and Putnam  residents lost power overnight as storms rolled through the region, bringing hail, rain, and wind gusts approaching 70 mph that sent tree limbs flying and downing power lines. Utility crews worked through the night to make repairs to at least a dozen broken poles and nearly 100 downed wires that left some in the dark weeks after Tropical Storm Isaias wrecked havoc on the East Coast. As of around 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, a total of 226 of NYSEG’s Putnam 38,694 customers were still without power, while Central Hudson was reporting two outages in…

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by Zak Failla
Poughkeepsie, NY
Weather
Prepare For New Round Of Severe Storms, Central Hudson Warns Prepare For New Round Of Severe Storms, Central Hudson Warns
Prepare For New Round Of Severe Storms, Central Hudson Warns Just as the Hudson Valley comes out the other side of Tropical Storm Isaias, utility companies are warning customers to prepare for a possible second storm that could bring winds up to 70 mph. Earlier story - New Round Of Severe Storms With Damaging Wind Gusts, Possible Tornadoes Will Sweep Through After some customers in the region were without power for more than a week following Isaias, Central Hudson issued an alert warning area residents to be ready for severe thunderstorms that "have the potential to bring damaging winds, hail, and heavy rain to the area,” on Thursday, Aug. 27. …

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by Zak Failla
Massapequa, NY
News
Isaias: Cuomo Proposes New Penalties For Utility Companies' Response To Storm Isaias: Cuomo Proposes New Penalties For Utility Companies' Response To Storm
Isaias: Cuomo Proposes New Penalties For Utility Companies' Response To Storm New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a scathing indictment to the state’s utility companies for their muted response to Tropical Storm Isaias, which left some without power for more than a week. During a briefing on Monday, Aug. 24, Cuomo announced he plans to propose legislation that will increase penalties for utility companies when they fail to properly plan and respond to a storm. Cuomo also said that some franchises could ultimately be fired if they don’t make the necessary changes before future storms strike. “The utility company responses were unacceptable following the recent tropica…

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by Zak Failla
White Plains, NY
Politics
Isaias: Latimer Blasts Response By Utility, Telecom Companies At Joint State Hearing Isaias: Latimer Blasts Response By Utility, Telecom Companies At Joint State Hearing
Isaias: Latimer Blasts Response By Utility, Telecom Companies At Joint State Hearing Westchester County Executive George Latimer was the latest elected official to come down on utility and telecom companies for their poor response to Tropical Storm Isaias. Latimer spoke this week during a joint Senate and Assembly public hearing on the power and communication failures caused by the winds and rain Isaias brought as it ripped through the East Coast. Latimer made note that the region is still dealing with the fallout of the COVID-19 crisis, and the outages came in the midst of a heatwave that saw temperatures approach 100 degrees. “(This is) outrageous in any time, but today,…

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by Zak Failla
Kingston, NY
News
Isaias: Hudson Valley Utility Companies, Altice Face Penalties For Planning, Response Isaias: Hudson Valley Utility Companies, Altice Face Penalties For Planning, Response
Isaias: Hudson Valley Utility Companies, Altice Face Penalties For Planning, Response Utility companies in the Hudson Valley are under scrutiny from top state officials for their response to Tropical Storm Isaias. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday, Aug. 19 that the state’s Department of Public Service has completed the first phase of its investigation into the utility preparation and restoration efforts in the wake of the wreckage caused by Isaias. Cuomo said that the Department has sent Notice of Apparent Violation letters to Con Edison, Orange & Rockland Utilities, and Altice-owned Optimum, who all now face steep penalties. The department has threatene…

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by Zak Failla
Hackensack, NJ
News
Here's How To Get Reimbursed By PSE&G For Food, Medication Spoiled During Tropical Storm Isaias Here's How To Get Reimbursed By PSE&G For Food, Medication Spoiled During Tropical Storm Isaias
Here's How To Get Reimbursed By PSE&G For Food, Medication Spoiled During Tropical Storm Isaias PSE&G is reimbursing customers for food and medicine spoiled during outages during Tropical Storm Isaias. In an about-face announcement, the company said it will be reimbursing commercial and residential customers who lost power for more than 72 hours between Aug. 4 and 12. Residential customers can receive up to $250 and commercial customers up to $5,000. "We recognize that losing power in August, together with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, was a hardship for many of our customers," PSE&G President Dave Daly said.  "Given the unique combination of circumstanc…

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by Cecilia Levine
Massapequa, NY
News
Isaias: PSEG Long Island Says It Will Reimburse Customers For Spoiled Food Isaias: PSEG Long Island Says It Will Reimburse Customers For Spoiled Food
Isaias: Pseg Long Island Says It Will Reimburse Customers For Spoiled Food PSEG Long Island announced that it will be reimbursing customers who had food or medicine spoiled as a result of the power outages caused by Tropical Storm Isaias. More than 420,000 Long Islanders lost power during the tropical storm, with some having to wait eight days before the outages were repaired. In response, the utility company said it will be expanding its claims policy so customers who faced electrical service outages for at least 72 hours can be reimbursed for spoiled food, medication, or perishable commercial supplies. PSEG will reimburse residential customers for up to $250, a…

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by Zak Failla
Torrington, CT
News
Isaias: CT Residents Warned Of Storm-Related Repair Scams Isaias: CT Residents Warned Of Storm-Related Repair Scams
Isaias: CT Residents Warned Of Storm-Related Repair Scams Connecticut residents have been cautioned to be wary of opportunistic fraudsters taking advantage in the wake of Tropical Storm Isaias. State Attorney General William Tong issued an alert this week warning that residents should be aware of tree removal, power restoration, or other repair scams in areas still without power or where heavy damage resulted from the storm. Tong said that after past significant storms and weather events, Connecticut residents have reported individuals, some claiming to work for utility companies, going door to door offering to reconnect electric power, repair ro…

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by Zak Failla
Mount Pleasant, NY
News
Isaias: Optimum Customers Will Get Credit For Lost Internet Service Following Storm Isaias: Optimum Customers Will Get Credit For Lost Internet Service Following Storm
Isaias: Optimum Customers Will Get Credit For Lost Internet Service Following Storm Optimum customers who lost internet service due to Tropical Storm Isaias will receive a credit, the company announced. "Tropical Storm Isaias was one of the most powerful storms to strike the Northeast in years and our crews have been working around the clock to repair damage and restore your service as power returns," the company said in a statement. "We appreciate your patience and will be providing a credit for the time that your Optimum service was not available when power was restored.  "There is no need to request this credit, we will simply apply it to your account in the next s…

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by Daily Voice
Torrington, CT
Weather
There Are Two Tropical Storms In Atlantic: Here's Where Josephine, Newly Named Kyle Are Headed There Are Two Tropical Storms In Atlantic: Here's Where Josephine, Newly Named Kyle Are Headed
There Are Two Tropical Storms In Atlantic: Here's Where Josephine, Newly Named Kyle Are Headed There are now two tropical storms n the Atlantic Ocean, and they're heading in different directions. The National Hurricane Center announced on Thursday, Aug. 13 that it upgraded Tropical Depression Eleven to Tropical Storm Josephine. On Friday, Aug. 14, Kyle became the 11th named tropical system of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. Unlike Josephine, it is well offshore and poses no threat to the East Coast. Josephine's center as of Saturday morning, Aug. 15, is located over the Atlantic Ocean about 310 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands, the area where t…

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by Joe Lombardi
Hartford, CT
News
Eversource Says Lawsuit Seeking $1.5 Billion For Isaias Damages Has No Merit Eversource Says Lawsuit Seeking $1.5 Billion For Isaias Damages Has No Merit
Eversource Says Lawsuit Seeking $1.5 Billion For Isaias Damages Has No Merit Eversource says there’s no merit to a lawsuit filed against Eversource is seeking $1.5 billion to compensate customers for damages suffered during Tropical Storm Isaias. Filed on Wednesday, Aug. 12, the three plaintiffs are hoping their complaint becomes a class action lawsuit. The plaintiffs are critical of Eversource executives’ preparations for the storm and the company’s response to mass power outages across Connecticut. Some people lost power in their homes or businesses for more than seven days. The $1.5 billion is meant to compensate people for lost food, medicine, and income due to t…

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by Kristin Palpini
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Police & Fire
UPDATE: Morris County Worker Killed By Tree Branch UPDATE: Morris County Worker Killed By Tree Branch
Update: Morris County Worker Killed By Tree Branch A man working on Tropical Storm Isaias storm cleanup in Morris Township was killed when a branch fell on him, authorities said. Jody Terwilliger, 58, of Shohola, Pennsylvania was struck near Craig Road and Sussex Avenue around 9:10 a.m. Thursday, township police Capt. Robert Shearer told Daily Voice. First responders crews performed CPR on Terwilliger before he was taken to Morristown Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead, Shearer said. Terwilliger was an employee at Nelson Tree Service. His death was determined to be accidental, NorthJersey.com reports.

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by Valerie Musson
Torrington, CT
News
Isaias: Eversource, UI Reject Demands For Reimbursements For Food, Medicine After Outages Isaias: Eversource, UI Reject Demands For Reimbursements For Food, Medicine After Outages
Isaias: Eversource, UI Reject Demands For Reimbursements For Food, Medicine After Outages Despite calls to reimburse customers for costs incurred due to power outages after Tropical Storm Isaias barreled through the region, Eversource and United Illuminating are showing resistance to complying. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and Gov. Ned Lamont both demanded the company reimburse customers, Eversource has thus far been reluctant to provide relief, despite utility companies in neighboring states reimbursing for prescription medication and food that spoiled during the storm cleanup. "Eversource and UI need to do the right thing as ConEd has done in New York and reimbur…

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by Zak Failla
Mount Pleasant, NY
News
Con Ed, Orange & Rockland Utilities Fined $10.75M For Response To 2018 Winter Storm Con Ed, Orange & Rockland Utilities Fined $10.75M For Response To 2018 Winter Storm
Con Ed, Orange & Rockland Utilities Fined $10.75M For Response To 2018 Winter Storm While still catching heat for their response to Tropical Storm Isaias, utility companies in the Hudson Valley have been ordered to pay a record settlement for their response to the 2018 winter storms that left thousands in the dark. The New York State Public Service Commission announced a $10.75 million settlement with Con Edison and Orange & Rockland Utilities over their preparation and responses to storms in 2018 that left 293,000 customers without power. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies agree to settle alleged violations of their emergency response plans for a combined…

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by Zak Failla
Torrington, CT
Weather
New Tropical Storm In Atlantic: Latest Projected Five-Day Track Released For Josephine New Tropical Storm In Atlantic: Latest Projected Five-Day Track Released For Josephine
New Tropical Storm In Atlantic: Latest Projected Five-Day Track Released For Josephine A new projected track has been released for the tropical storm that just formed in the Atlantic Ocean. The National Hurricane Center announced on Thursday, Aug. 13 that it upgraded Tropical Depression Eleven to Tropical Storm Josephine. On Friday morning, Aug. 14, Josephine's center is located over the Atlantic Ocean about 680 miles (1090 km) east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands, the area where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean. It's moving toward the west-northwest at about 17 miles per hour with that general motion expected to continue fo…

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by Joe Lombardi