Oct 042012
A 7,900 volt power line in the 400 block of Longely Road was attacked by a an unruly tree branch a few minutes after 6:00 p.m. Wednesday evening, taking out power to about 60 homes. The branch caught fire and the line burned through, triggering a call to the Groton Fire Department.
Groton Electric Light Department crews had to shut down service in the area to make repairs, Kevin Kelly, GELD manager said, and that pulled the plug on about 100 more homes. Repairs were made and all customers were back online around 8:00 p.m.
Kelly said that the utility has contracted with two private tree trimming companies to supplement GELD’s own tree-trimming crew and put three crews on the road toward the end of October, preparing for winter weather by removing suspect branches. The three crews will be clearing lines through the fall and winter and on standby for storms.
Kudos to the GELD crew for their speedy repair work last night! Heaven knows how long we’d have to wait for power if National Grid or Unitil were our electric company.
In appreciation,
Andrew Peterson & Family
Longley Road