How long will this project take?
Over the past five years we have converted key circuits on our Arlington electric system to a 13.8 kV system, which is more reliable and more efficient than the previous system. We have also brought new lines into the town to feed customers from the north, south and east of Arlington. The final phase of the project, brining in a new line into the western section of the town, should be complete by 2009.
How do I know if I'm going to experience a planned outage as
a result of this project?
Often times NSTAR employees are able to work on our system while
it is live, limiting the number of outages customers experience.
However, sometimes NSTAR will need to interrupt the flow of
electricity in an area so our workers can safely carry out their
job. In the event a planned outage is necessary, customers will
receive notification via U.S. mail or by phone in advance of the
outage.
Why didn’t I get a letter or phone call about the planned
service interruptions?
Notifications are sent to a customer’s billing address and phone
number of record. Occasionally, customers choose to have bills
sent to their work or provide secondary numbers when
establishing service. Please make sure that your information is
current and provides NSTAR the best opportunity to notify you of
planned work. Also, if you share your address or phone number
with others, please alert them to the fact that notifications
are sent to these points of contact so that they promptly relay
messages to you.
My lights went out a day later than the outage notice
indicated. Why is this?
Sometimes situations arise NSTAR wasn't able to anticipate,
forcing us to reschedule a planned outage. Such situations
include inclement weather, inaccessibility to company equipment
(usually due to parked vehicles) or an unexpected emergency
situation when we may have to redeploy crews.
I experienced a service interruption and didn't receive a
letter ahead of time. Why is this?
Sometimes emergency situations arise requiring us to stop the
flow of electricity through parts of our system. Situations,
such as bad weather, a car accident, fallen tree limbs,
equipment malfunction or even a rodent coming in contact with
our wires, might result in an unplanned outage.
What areas of Arlington will see construction?
The majority of the work will take place in the neighborhoods west of Park Avenue and south of Summer Street, between Summer Street and the Belmont town line.
NSTAR employees will transfer of overhead equipment from older poles to the newer poles that make up the new circuit. Some street construction may be necessary to access some of the underground system. The majority of the underground construction was completed in the Fall of 2008.
Why don't I see NSTAR employees on my street?
During the project, you won't necessarily see NSTAR workers on
your street or on neighboring streets. Even though you'll see a
benefit to the work we're doing, work done on circuits located
several streets away often improves service in many areas of
Arlington at the same time.
Will you have to gain access to my property to do work?
In some cases NSTAR might need to access power lines located in
rights of way behind homes. In such a situation, NSTAR will
contact you ahead of time letting you know when approximately
NSTAR employees will be working on nearby power lines and what
kind of access we require to do this work.
What will NSTAR do to ensure reliability after this project
is complete?
NSTAR will continue to inspect and monitor our infrastructure to
identify poles and circuits which might need maintenance in the
future. NSTAR will also continue its tree trimming program to
help manage outages stemming from fallen or encroaching tree
limbs. Tree trimming allows for the proper clearance between
wires and trees, increasing both safety and reliability.
I have more questions about this project. Who can I call?
If you would like a Community Relations Representative to
contact you with further information, please
email us.
