Power outages due to ice storm in Northeast

Manchester, 12/12/2008. As of 8:00a.m., PSNH reports that about 230,000 of its customers are without power, as a result of the ice build-up that is continuing to cause tree limbs and branches to snap, taking down power lines and affecting utility equipment. The number of customer outages could continue to climb this morning, with additional icing and the potential for wind gusts to occur.

While power outages are happening across the state, the worst hit areas include communities in the band across Southern NH: Keene, Peterborough, Hillsboro, Milford, Nashua, Manchester, Derry, Epping Portsmouth, and Rochester.

PSNH has about 190 line and tree-trimming crews working to restore power today, and is working to secure several additional line crews from its sister utilities in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and from Hydro-Quebec.

With the benefit of daylight, PSNH will be getting a better assessment of damage to its system. Early reports indicate that the total number of outages from this storm are unprecedented, having already surpassed the ice storm in January 1998, which left 55,000 customers without power at its peak.

Customers are asked to prepare for what could be a multi-day power restoration effort, given the amount of tree and branch debris that must be cleared before power can be restored. Customers should be extremely cautious around down power lines, and always assume that the lines are energized.