New England public power utilities have sent crews to help rural cooperative utilities in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine restore power in the wake of a winter storm that recently hit the region.
On the morning of Saturday, Dec. 17, public power crews and personnel mobilized to the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC), while crews and personnel also mobilized to the Washington Electric Cooperative (WEC) in Vermont in response to a mutual aid request due to a winter storm that hit the region on the evening of Friday, Dec. 16. Crews were also deployed to assist the Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative.
The crews were deployed through the Northeast Public Power Association (NEPPA). Nick Lawler, General Manager for Massachusetts public power utility Littleton Electric Light and Water Department, noted that these activities “happen because of the strong NEPPA Mutual Aid program in place that is run by utility volunteers that are true public power servants.” Along with his role at Littleton, Lawler is a mutual aid regional coordinator for APPA
Lawler said that Patricia Waugh from Stowe Electric in Vermont and Dave Ketchen from Littleton Electric “worked and are working around the clock volunteering their time throughout the night and weekends to help support” other communities. “This drive and mission is truly what makes public power great, and this is something that NEPPA has facilitated and understood for decades,” Lawler said.
The following Massachusetts public power utilities sent crews to assist with restoration efforts:
- Reading
- Wellesley
- Middleton
- Merrimac
- West Boylston
- Braintree
- Taunton
- Ipswich
- Georgetown
- Marblehead
- Holyoke
- Templeton
- Littleton
- Groveland
- Groton
