CL&P: Some May Need Electrical Contractor

Submitted release from Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P)

As CL&P works to restore power across the state, homeowners should be aware that any damage to customer-owned equipment must be repaired by licensed, professional electricians before the company can reconnect power lines, according to a press release.

CL&P will repair the equipment leading to a home, including the service wire and connectors. Homeowners are responsible for all other equipment attached to a residence, including a clevis (house knob), weatherheads, conduits, conductors and the meter box. However, you are not responsible for damage to the meter. 

If repairs are required beyond a simple reattachment of your electrical service to your home, please contact a properly licensedand insured electrical contractor to perform the necessary repairs. This should expedite your service restoration, the release states. 

CL&P reminds customers using generators to power their homes and businesses to only set them up outdoors.  Never use a generator indoors, in an attached garage, a basement, or a crawl space. Avoid using a generator in a partially enclosed inhabited space, even if it is ventilated.  Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent carbon monoxide build-up.  When placing it outdoors, make sure the generator is far from a home's doors, windows and vents. Customers should also have a qualified electrician connect the generator with a transfer switch, so that it is not connected directly to your home’s wiring, otherwise, power can "backfeed," or flow back into the power lines, creating a dangerous situation for the public and for our line crews who may be working nearby.