Opinion: CL&P's Response has been 'Incompetent'

To the Editor,

Like thousands of people in Wilton (and hundreds of thousands in Connecticut), I am fed up with hearing inane excuses and platitudes about CL&P’s massively incompetent handling of the post-hurricane power restoration. We are being treated like mushrooms – kept in the dark and fed manure. We are provided with no substantive information and you can’t even talk to a human being at CL&P at this point!

In today’s New York Times, it was reported that the head of CL&P was gearing up to ask for a rate increase (on the order of $75 Million) to cover “unexpected costs” from the storm.  You may know the standard definition of chutzpah: Teenager kills parents, is convicted, and at sentencing asks the judge for leniency because “I’m an orphan.” CL&P asking for a rate hike to my mind becomes the new gold standard for chutzpah!

So far, all I’ve heard from our elected representatives are regurgitations of CL&P publicity statements – you know, “historic event, doing everything we can, be patient and eventually everything will be fine.” Enough already!!!

Toni Boucher and Gail Lavielle: I want to know when you are going to open hearings with your Democratic colleagues to investigate how CL&P’s management so thoroughly fouled up the restoration, when these people are going to be replaced  – and find out what the action plans are for making sure we don’t have to suffer through a repeat the next time we get smacked with a hurricane. And for heaven’s sake let’s not even consider rewarding this incompetence by allowing CL&P to increase their rates!

Steve Symonds

Wilton Resident