Nantucket Current | State investigates National Grid’s response to…

With the economic losses from the Christmas Stroll blackout still being calculated by island businesses, the state Department of Public Utilities said Wednesday that it had opened an investigation into National Grid’s response to the downtown power outage.

“The department will evaluate whether this outage and National Grid’s response met its obligations,” James M. Van Nostrand, chairman of the Department of Public Utilities (DPU), wrote in a letter, according to Massachusetts utility regulations and standards to National Grid New England President Lisa S. Wieland. “In addition, the Department will assess whether National Grid is adequately prepared for this emergency given the limitations in supply to Nantucket Island and the importance of this event to Nantucket’s economy.”

The outage lasted about 27 hours – from 10:20 a.m. on Saturday to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday – before power was restored. National Grid identified the problem as two sections of underground power cable failing and in need of replacement, requiring the utility to send specialized crews and equipment to Nantucket by ferry late Saturday evening and early Sunday morning. But when the lights came back on, a weekend that is typically one of the most profitable of the year for downtown businesses was wiped out.

Losses caused by the power outage were estimated at $1.3 million as of Wednesday evening, according to the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce, which distributed a survey to affected businesses. This number is expected to increase as more companies participate in the survey.

The DPU has the power to penalize an electricity company if it fails to meet service quality standards, and the ministry made clear on Wednesday that it is evaluating National Grid’s response to the outage and will determine the action against the company.

Read the full letter below: