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DARIEN, Conn. Town governments and utility companies need to work more closely together to avoid the widespread and long-lasting power outages seen after Hurricane Irene and the Halloween snowstorm. This was the main message at a forum about power outages held Tuesday in Darien.
Joseph McGee, co-chair of the governors Two-Storm Panel, said a major recommendation from the panel is for mayors and selectmen to form compacts with utility companies on how they would work together to clear roads and get power back after storms. Confusion and a lack of communication is part of what took so long to get power running after last year's two severe storms, he said.
Kenneth Bowes, a representative from Connecticut Light & Power, said the company learned a lot after the two storms, including that it needs to better communicate with its customers and municipalities. Some towns worked seamlessly with CL&P, but this was not the case everywhere, he said. The utility company also needs to make repairs on infrastructure, including trimming vegetation and placing some lines underground, he said.
Tree management is a chronic issue that needs towns and the state need to address, said Eric Hammerling of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association. Tree wardens and utility companies need to work together to remove problem trees. Homeowners should also be educated on what trees to plant and how to manage them so they dont threaten power lines, he said.
McGee, who is also vice president of the Business Council of Fairfield County in Stamford, said each town spends a different amount on tree trimming. The Two-Storm Panel recommended a vegetation management committee that could address how to properly trim trees. In addition to public education, he said it was also important that homeowners should not be completely responsible for paying to remove problem trees.
The forum was hosted by the Fairfield Forestry Committee, the Greenwich Tree Conservancy, the Stamford Tree Foundation, the Tree Conservancy of Darien and the League of Women Voters.
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