Rell calls on CL&P to restore all power outages by tonight

NOTE: An updated version of this story can be found here.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell told top managers at Connecticut Light & Power, which still was managing about 7,700 storm-related outages, tonight that repairs were not moving fast enough.

Rell said in a statement that she called CL&P President and Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Butler and top managers and asked them to step up all repairs and clean-up of storm debris.

"I spoke today with CL&P President Jeff Butler, and told him that, frankly, it has already taken too long to restore power for everyone," Rell said. "People are angry and frustrated, and I share their frustration. Families and businesses have been living in limbo for almost a week.

"This was clearly a major storm, and a proportionately massive response was in order. What I have seen to date does not meet that description," she said.

The company said in a statement late Thursday that it was doing everything possible to restore power as soon as possible following the worst storm to hit southwest Connecticut in 25 years.

On Tuesday, Rell initiated a state investigation into CL&P's and United Illuminating's handling of outages associated with last weekend's rain and wind storm.

The Day first reported Tuesday that the Department of Public Utility Control would be investigating 20 complaints, including some from CL&P unionized linesmen, who said the delays were prompted in part by the company's interest in not paying double time for extended hours. CL&P denied the union's charges.

The United Illuminating Company, which serves about 323,000 customers compared with CL&P's 1.2 million, had reduced its outages to less than 51 by Wednesday. UI officials could not be reached for comment.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal also initiated his own investigation today into delays associated with the two electric utilities' and AT&T's handling of storm outages. A DPUC spokesman said the agency could not investigate AT&T unless and until it received complaints directly from the public or the union president, who on Thursday said the firm's workforce was not utilized to its fullest in responding to phone line outages during the storm. AT&T disputed the charges.