The state is investigating the lack of responsiveness from Connecticut's two major utilities in restoring power during last weekend's harsh wind-and-rain storm.Rich Harris, a spokesman for Gov. M. Jodi Rell, said the governor has ordered the state departments of Public Utility Control and Emergency Management and Homeland Security to get to the bottom of the delays and provide "answers sooner rather than later."

Rich Harris, a spokesman for Gov. M. Jodi Rell, said the governor has ordered the state departments of Public Utility Control and Emergency Management and Homeland Security to get to the bottom of the delays and provide "answers sooner rather than later."The Day first reported Tuesday that the state DPUC, which regulates utilities, would be investigating 20 complaints regarding Connecticut Light & Power Co.'s handling of storm coverage. CL&P union linesmen also told The Day the utility delayed restoring power during the weekend's nor'easter by avoiding paying them double time to work longer shifts.

The Day first reported Tuesday that the state DPUC, which regulates utilities, would be investigating 20 complaints regarding Connecticut Light & Power Co.'s handling of storm coverage. CL&P union linesmen also told The Day the utility delayed restoring power during the weekend's nor'easter by avoiding paying them double time to work longer shifts.In a statement issued midday Tuesday, Rell said the Hartford-based CL&P and New Haven-based United Illuminating "were slow to respond" not only to outages on Saturday and Sunday night but to calls from town officials, fire and police chiefs and emergency management officials.

In a statement issued midday Tuesday, Rell said the Hartford-based CL&P and New Haven-based United Illuminating "were slow to respond" not only to outages on Saturday and Sunday night but to calls from town officials, fire and police chiefs and emergency management officials."It is flatly unacceptable for a fire or police official to be unable to reach a 'real person' at a utility company in the middle of an emergency," Rell said. "We need to know what went wrong, why it happened and how to keep it from happening again."

"It is flatly unacceptable for a fire or police official to be unable to reach a 'real person' at a utility company in the middle of an emergency," Rell said. "We need to know what went wrong, why it happened and how to keep it from happening again."CL&P and UI defended their actions Tuesday, saying they would conduct their own critiques after power was fully restored. That time hasn't come yet for some in the state.

CL&P and UI defended their actions Tuesday, saying they would conduct their own critiques after power was fully restored. That time hasn't come yet for some in the state.On Tuesday, CL&P crews were still working to restore power to more than ___39,000 customers. About ___UI customers remained without power. The storm began on Saturday. UI delivers electricity to 323,000 homes and businesses in 17 towns from Fairfield to North Branford. CL&P covers about 1.2 million customers. Municipal Utilities supplies the rest of the state's electric customers.

On Tuesday, CL&P crews were still working to restore power to more than ___39,000 customers. About ___UI customers remained without power. The storm began on Saturday. UI delivers electricity to 323,000 homes and businesses in 17 towns from Fairfield to North Branford. CL&P covers about 1.2 million customers. Municipal Utilities supplies the rest of the state's electric customers.Jeffrey Butler, CL&P's president and chief operating officer, said in a phone interview Tuesday that high winds and torrential rains on Saturday and Sunday prevented crews from responding as fully as they might have otherwise.

Jeffrey Butler, CL&P's president and chief operating officer, said in a phone interview Tuesday that high winds and torrential rains on Saturday and Sunday prevented crews from responding as fully as they might have otherwise."We were responding to calls, but during that period the focus of our response was the critical emergency calls, the 911, 'wire-down' calls," Butler said. "We were in assessment mode, not in restoration mode during the height of the storm. ... We recognize the hardship of being without power for three days, and our priority is first and foremost to take care of our customers."

"We were responding to calls, but during that period the focus of our response was the critical emergency calls, the 911, 'wire-down' calls," Butler said. "We were in assessment mode, not in restoration mode during the height of the storm. ... We recognize the hardship of being without power for three days, and our priority is first and foremost to take care of our customers."United Illuminating's spokeswoman, Anita Steeves, added that the storm did not let up until Monday.

United Illuminating's spokeswoman, Anita Steeves, added that the storm did not let up until Monday."To put it in perspective, Saturday we had almost 14,000 customers out, 95 percent in Bridgeport and Fairfield," Steeves said. "(Yet), we've restored more than 24,000 (customers). What happened was, this was a three-day event, the major gusts of 50 to 70 miles per hour happened Saturday but the rains and high winds continued into Sunday and Monday."

"To put it in perspective, Saturday we had almost 14,000 customers out, 95 percent in Bridgeport and Fairfield," Steeves said. "(Yet), we've restored more than 24,000 (customers). What happened was, this was a three-day event, the major gusts of 50 to 70 miles per hour happened Saturday but the rains and high winds continued into Sunday and Monday."The magnitude and intensity of the storm necessitated calling in freelance contractors, Butler added - about 180 contracted line crews to supplement 120 from CL&P. In addition, 130 tree contractor crews have been called in, he said.

The magnitude and intensity of the storm necessitated calling in freelance contractors, Butler added - about 180 contracted line crews to supplement 120 from CL&P. In addition, 130 tree contractor crews have been called in, he said. In addition, he said, conference calls were going on with state agencies, including the utility, emergency management and public safety regulators "to ensure all parties' issues and concerns (were) being met."

In addition, he said, conference calls were going on with state agencies, including the utility, emergency management and public safety regulators "to ensure all parties' issues and concerns (were) being met." Butler said a stated policy of having linesmen work 16 hours on and eight hours off was instituted in 2003, not last year, as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers' union managers claim. Butler came to CL&P from California last June.

Butler said a stated policy of having linesmen work 16 hours on and eight hours off was instituted in 2003, not last year, as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers' union managers claim. Butler came to CL&P from California last June.The company is making sure workers get a full eight hours off for safety purposes, Butler said. Fewer crews working at night and more during the day is, he acknowledged, a conscious change this past year.

The company is making sure workers get a full eight hours off for safety purposes, Butler said. Fewer crews working at night and more during the day is, he acknowledged, a conscious change this past year.However, a chief linesman with more than 20 years of experience said the 16 hours on/eight off policy was first implemented last year. The linesman asked not to be identified for fear of retribution.

However, a chief linesman with more than 20 years of experience said the 16 hours on/eight off policy was first implemented last year. The linesman asked not to be identified for fear of retribution."Whenever we have a storm of any magnitude, whether it lasts one day or 10 days, we work 18 hours or sometimes more, get six hours of rest, come back, and do the work until customers are back on," the linesman said. "(The policy) has been a significant change that affects customers and it also affects public safety."

"Whenever we have a storm of any magnitude, whether it lasts one day or 10 days, we work 18 hours or sometimes more, get six hours of rest, come back, and do the work until customers are back on," the linesman said. "(The policy) has been a significant change that affects customers and it also affects public safety." John Unikas, business manager of IBEW union Local 420, which covers the towns west of the Connecticut River, confirmed the chief linesman's view. Unikas has more than 30 years with the company.

John Unikas, business manager of IBEW union Local 420, which covers the towns west of the Connecticut River, confirmed the chief linesman's view. Unikas has more than 30 years with the company. In past major storms, added Unikas, the company "would have expected us to work extended hours, 17, 18, 19 hours a day to get the lights back on."

In past major storms, added Unikas, the company "would have expected us to work extended hours, 17, 18, 19 hours a day to get the lights back on."Unikas noted that the longer it takes to restore power, the more CL&P is likely paying its workers.

Unikas noted that the longer it takes to restore power, the more CL&P is likely paying its workers."Here's the irony of this situation," Unikas said. "If we were working extended hours, the outage time would be cut down. The money's important; nobody works for free. But who's really suffering here are the customers. Their outage time is being extended."

"Here's the irony of this situation," Unikas said. "If we were working extended hours, the outage time would be cut down. The money's important; nobody works for free. But who's really suffering here are the customers. Their outage time is being extended."Both UI and CL&P said they would cooperate with the state's probe.

Both UI and CL&P said they would cooperate with the state's probe."As we move forward, we look forward to working with the various agencies to review our performance in the storm restoration," Butler said, "and if we are able to improve our performance going forward, we will certainly implement changes" to do that.

"As we move forward, we look forward to working with the various agencies to review our performance in the storm restoration," Butler said, "and if we are able to improve our performance going forward, we will certainly implement changes" to do that.p.daddona@theday.com

p.daddona@theday.com