Hearings set to review utilities’ Sandy response

Utility crews worked on power lines in Stamford in the days after Sandy struck. Credit: Patrick Gallagher

Public hearings around the state will begin in January to asses the public utility companies’ emergency response to Hurricane Sandy.

Hearings will be held Jan. 3 in East Haven, Jan. 7 in Westport and Jan. 15 in Waterford.

The hearings are a part of a mandate signed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy last year, which requires the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to review the utility companies’ response efforts when 10 percent or more of its customers are without electricity for more than 48 hours.

Earlier this month, eight Fairfield County mayors and first selectmen sent a letter to PURA stating that despite Connecticut Light & Power’s “attentive and concerned” efforts, the company’s overall response was lacking, according to published reports.