Outage Restoration Timeline 'Unacceptable,' Stratford Mayor Says

STRATFORD, CT — Stratford’s mayor had one word Thursday to describe the projected restoration timeline for the days-long outages that have affected thousands in town: unacceptable.

Some Stratford residents may continue to experience outages into the weekend after Tropical Storm Isaias caused widespread damage Tuesday, according to Mayor Laura Hoydick.

“United Illuminating reports that as of 2:29 p.m. today that 7,482 customers remain without power in Stratford at this time. That is a mere 218 customers back on power since this morning. That is unacceptable,” Hoydick said in a Facebook post Thursday evening. “… UI has given us their projected full restoration projection, and they predict their entire service area will be restored by Saturday. This is also unacceptable.”

Hoydick went on to say she supported Gov. Ned Lamont’s call for an investigation of the company’s storm preparation and response by Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.

“Ironically, the UI servers went down today because of electrical problems,” Stratford Public Safety Director Larry Ciccarelli said Thursday evening, a development that made it difficult for residents to track the company’s progress fixing the outages.

As of about 3 a.m. Friday, 5,515 UI customers in Stratford — or 23 percent — had no power, according to the company’s outage map, a significant decrease compared to the numbers from Thursday afternoon.

Despite the long-lasting outages, Ciccarelli said the situation could be worse.

“One of the saving graces of this, if there is such a thing, is that the temperature has been cooler,” he said. “… It’s been cool enough outside that it hasn’t posed a direct health hazard.”

Ciccarelli estimated over 100 roads had been blocked by downed wires and debris after the storm, but as of Thursday evening, all major roads were open, with some side roads and dead-end roads to be cleared overnight. Public works employees were working closely with UI to make the roads passable, Ciccarelli said, also noting the storm response contributions of Stratford’s firefighters, police, emergency medical service, dispatch workers and health department.

“They’ve all been working a lot of hours, a lot of overtime,” he said.

While the outages continue, Stratford has set up charging stations at the YMCA, 3045 Main St., and the library, 2203 Main St.

For more information about specific outages, visit bit.ly/39SDtig. For power-related issues in town or to report an uncleared road, call 203-380-6757. To report outages to UI, call 800-722-5584 or visit UINET.com.