SHARE

CL&P Seeks Power Bill Hike To Cover $400M In Storm Costs

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. — Sandy, Irene and the other storms that battered Connecticut with record power outages in 2011 and 2012 have cost Connecticut Light & Power more than $462 million — and now the utility is looking to its customers to help cover the costs

Hurricane Sandy caused more than 850,000 power outages in Connecticut.

Hurricane Sandy caused more than 850,000 power outages in Connecticut.

Photo Credit: Fred Converse, File

CL&P has asked the state's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to approve a rate increase the utility says will costs the typical customer about $3 more a month. The new rates would go into effect Dec. 1, 2014. 

“The damage from these natural disasters and the response to complete repairs was extraordinary and unlike anything in CL&P history,” said Bill Herdegen, CL&P president and chief operating officer. “Typically, storms of this magnitude strike years or decades apart, but in 16 months, we experienced four of the company’s ten most devastating storms."

Storms in order of expense: 

  • $175.06 million: Oct. 2011 Nor’easter, 1,438,797 power outages
  • $156 million: Superstorm Sandy, 856,184 poweroutages
  • $111 million: Hurricane Irene, 1,024,032 power outages
  • $10.9 million: June 2011 storm, 209,045 power outages. 
  • $9.19 million: Sept. 2012 storm, 80,575 power outages.

 

to follow Daily Voice Greenwich and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE