The weekend was darker than usual

This was a rough weekend for many Northwest Corner residents and several of the largest area businesses due to a lengthy power outage. The quick and damaging storm Thursday afternoon, June 9, brought down many trees and wires and created a bad situation with closed roads and lack of power. (See story, front page.) Throughout the state, and here, this storm seemed to be too much for CL&P to handle in a timely way. It’s not the first time the outer reaches of the state came last on the schedule to fix electrical wires and clear trees, and it won’t be the last. But when Connecticut is struggling as it is economically and this is the season when the Northwest Corner does much of its business, CL&P should have reconsidered its plan of action. Of course, the efforts made by their crews are much appreciated, and no workers should have been put at risk by putting in too many consecutive hours. But when crews were finally brought in from out-of-state on Saturday, power had already been out for the better part of a busy weekend. The businesses affected most by the longest outages included Lime Rock Park, The Wake Robin Inn and The Hotchkiss School. They serve many of those who bring tourism dollars into the state at this time of the year. CL&P should have made arrangements for out-of-state crews to come in sooner if they knew they did not have enough coverage with their own workers to fix the lines more quickly.Thanks to all those workers who did come, especially to those who worked quickly and efficiently, far from their homes, on a Saturday night to restore power to the last pockets of darkness. Next time, CL&P should use a portion of the money brought in from some of the highest electrical rates in the country to bring in extra help sooner.