Mr. Peter Clarke
President and Chief Operating Officer
Western Massachusetts Electric Company
One Federal Street
Springfield, MA 01105
Dear Mr. Clarke,
As you are undoubtedly aware the October 2011 snowstorm created a serious hardship for many Springfield residents and business owners who in some cases were without electricity for eight (8) days. The length of the power outage has continued to remain a great concern to me and my administration.
I have remained cognizant of the fact that a large number of financially struggling Springfield families were left with no alternative but to throw perishable food away following the power outage. For many families, this has been extremely burdensome especially when compounded by the need for many of these families to seek and spend money on alternative housing and meals. Additionally, local businesses were also compelled to dispose of food that would have resulted in health related illnesses had it been consumed.
It has come to my attention that Connecticut Light and Power Company has created a storm fund for residential customers impacted by the storm. The Connecticut Light and Power website states in pertinent part that “as a gesture of goodwill, we have established a fund to provide a credit for those customers hit hardest by the October Nor’easter. Any residential CL&P customer without power after noon on Saturday, November 5 as a result of the October nor’easter, is eligible for a minimum of $100 up to a maximum of $200 credit applied to their CL&P bill.”
In light of the foregoing and on behalf of the residents and businesses of Springfield, I respectfully request that Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECo) extend a similar storm fund credit to their customers within the City of Springfield. It is my sincere hope that WMECo will provide this credit to so many of our residents and businesses who are deserving of the same.
Thank you in advance for your consideration. I look forward to your response.
Respectfully,
Domenic J. Sarno
Mayor