Mar 1, 2009 2:24 pm US/Eastern
Unitil Warns Of Possible Storm Power Outages
BOSTON (AP) ―
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The Dec. 11-12 ice storm downed power lines throughout central and western Massachusetts.
WBZ
Less than three months after a devastating ice storm left thousands of Unitil customers without power for weeks, the company is warning of possible outages with
Sunday and Monday's storm.
The system's current track is expected to dump up to 15 inches of snow in certain areas across the state. WBZ meteorologists say this storm will likely bring with it a mix of snow and rain, causing severe icing.
Unitil said Sunday that it is prepared for some electrical outages during the storm. It said any outages are expected to be for "relatively short periods of time."
After
December's ice storm, Unitil came
under fire when some of its customers were without power for nearly two weeks. Towns hit the hardest by the outage were Ashby, Fitchburg, Lunenburg and Townsend.
Until admitted last month that it was
overwhelmed by the ice storm.
Residents in three towns have filed a
class action lawsuit against Unitil, alleging "gross negligence" in response to the ice storm.
Now, with another major storm in the forecast, Unitil reminds residents to be diligent in preparing for possible outages.
Unitil customers in Massachusetts that experience outages should call 1-888-301-7700. New Hampshire customers can call 1-800-852-3339 for the Capital area and 1-800-582-7276 for the Seacoast area.
In the event of an outage, Unitil recommends residents make sure they have handy blankets, coats, flashlights, batteries, batter-operated radio and clock, bottled water and non-perishable food items.
Customers are also asked to make sure dryer vents, hot water and boiler exhausts and utility meters are cleared of snow and ice.
The company said crews will be working around the clock to restore power should there be outages.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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