The Connecticut Council of Small Towns supports PURA’s decision to pursue a comprehensive investigation into the failure of Eversource and United Illuminating to adequately prepare for and respond to last week's Tropical Storm. 

COST President Bethel First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker says Eversource failed to adhere to well-established “make safe” protocols to address life safety issues, which he called inexcusable.  Knickerbocker says that put residents, including individuals with serious medical conditions and the elderly, in grave danger for a long period of time. 

He believes measures ordered by PURA and implemented in response to 2011 storms have been abandoned.

Knickerbocker says the lack of communication with town officials severely undermined efforts to protect residents and restore power in a timely manner.   He says electric utilities should have worked closely with municipal officials to address electrical hazards caused by downed wires, identify blocked roads, and prioritize power restoration to critical facilities, such as elderly complexes, nursing homes, police stations, fire stations, water and wastewater facilities.

COST represents 115 small towns throughout Connecticut.