Draft Decision Delays Closure of Eversource Work Center in Simsbury

A proposed final decision issued by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority would delay the closing of an Eversource Area Work Center in Simsbury until October 2015 so that the impact of the closure on public safety and customer service can be evaluated.

“I am grateful to Attorney General George Jepsen and Consumer Counsel Elin Swanson Katz for asking PURA to investigate the proposed closure,” said Simsbury First Selectman Lisa Heavner in a statement.

Heavner, joined by State Representative John Hampton, testified before PURA in support of the investigation in April.

“PURA’s proposed decision recognizes that Eversource’s plan to move equipment and 69 employees out of Simsbury to locations in Hartford, Cheshire, and Torrington could compromise safety by impacting emergency response times,” she said.

PURA’s decision as drafted would allow similar closures in Glastonbury, Newington, and Waterbury to move forward.

Under the proposed ruling, the long-term fate of the Simsbury Area Work Center would depend on whether a compliance filing by Eversource in October 2015 demonstrates that the closure plan will result in customer cost savings and would not adversely affect customer service, system reliability, and safety.

In correspondence to Eversource (then Connecticut Light & Power) in January 2015, the town of Simsbury expressed concern that “CL&P’s decision [to move the Work Center] will negatively impact public safety by increasing response times to emergencies. In particular, CL&P’s Emergency Response Protocol for Priority 1 incidents requires a response time of no more than thirty minutes – a response time that cannot be guaranteed given the distance of the towns identified for the relocation.”

The correspondence went on to note that Simsbury was hard hit by the October 2011 storm which left streets blocked and Simsbury residents without power for days.

“It is hard to see how moving the Work Center will not degrade Eversource’s emergency response capability,” said Heavner.

A final decision is expected to be issued by PURA in July.