Full Text:

CL&P To Upgrade Power Lines In Newtown & Brookfield

(with photo)

Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P) has budgeted $1.2 million to upgrade its

electrical distribution system and to improve service reliability in Newtown

and Brookfield.

The project began in January and is scheduled to continue for the next six

months. CL&P crews will install new poles and wire, upgrade equipment, and add

devices designed to isolate outages to smaller areas.

CL&P crews will run new insulated tree wire along portions of West Whisconier,

Currituck and Butterfield Roads. Wire will also be changed over along sections

of Route 25 and other roads around town. Tree wire helps to reduce the number

of outages caused by brush contact with branches and animals. Along with the

new wire, close to 150 poles will be replaced by CL&P and SNET crews. Pole top

equipment such as crossarms, insulators, lightning arresters and transformers

will be upgraded as part of this project.

Reclosures and reclosure loop schemes will be added for improved circuit

reliability. Reclosures automatically restore power after a line has

experienced a temporary fault that could be caused by a falling tree branch.

After the device is installed, customers will experience a momentary

interruption of service lasting a few seconds instead of a power outage.

Reclosure loop schemes improve reliability by enabling CL&P to redirect power

to an area from more than one source. Both of these systems will reduce the

number of customers affected and the length of the outage.

Since trees are the major cause of service interruptions, crews have begun

trimming on Butterfield Road. After clearing for new poles and wires they will

continue trimming trees through town. Trees will be trimmed to maintain the

recommended clearance zone of eight feet alongside electric lines, 15 feet

above and 10 feet beneath the lowest power line, according to CL&P.

"The combined benefits of line reconstruction, tree trimming, and the addition

of reclosures and reclosure loop schemes will significantly improve

reliability to our customers in Newtown and Brookfield," said Bill Stax,

general manager for the Danbury/New Milford district.

Davey Tree crews will be working in Brookfield and Newtown under the direction

of CL&P regional arborist, Alan Carey, Newtown Tree Warden, John Mead, and

Brookfield Tree Warden, Walter Loesch.

Prior to performing any tree work, representatives from Davey Tree will

identify trees that are dead, diseased, structurally weak, or capable of

causing electrical interruptions. Residents will then be informed of the

intended work in person or through the use of permission cards.

Residents having a question about the trimming work can contact Alan Carey

directly at 800/286-5000, Newtown extension 5865.