CL&P Upgrades Service In Monroe And Newtown

MONROE — Connecticut Light & Power Company (CL&P) has budgeted $2.1 million to upgrade the electrical distribution system and improve service reliability in Monroe. The project will include constructing a new circuit to serve the north end of Monroe out of CL&P’s Sandy Hook substation in Newtown.

Crews will also install new poles and wires, upgrade equipment and protective devices designed to isolate outages to smaller areas.

CL&P System Project crews started construction of the new circuit along Great Ring Road in Newtown in mid-October 2000. The Newtown portion of the circuit should be completed by the end of this year. Work in Monroe is scheduled to begin in January 2001 and continue through September.

Approximately 120 poles will be replaced by SNET and CL&P crews for this project. After the new poles are in place, CL&P crews will transfer their equipment to the new poles. Crews will also replace existing wire with tree wire along portions of Hammertown, Garder, Fan Hill, and Jockey Hollow Roads. Tree wire helps to reduce the number of outages caused by brush contact with branches and small animals. Pole top equipment such as cross arms, insulators, lighting arresters, and transformers will be upgraded as part of the project.

Reclosers will be added to the circuit for improved reliability. Reclosers automatically restore power after a line has experienced a temporary fault that could be caused by a falling tree branch or contact with a small animal. Residents will experience a momentary blink of the lights rather than a prolonged power interruption.

“Constructing a new circuit from CL&P’s Sandy Hook substation on Great Ring Road in Newtown to the northern part of Monroe will relieve load and improve reliability,” said Bill Stax, general manager for the Danbury/New Milford District.

Enhanced tree trimming designed to remove all structurally weak branches and diseased trees which can become weighted down with snow or ice and cause an electrical outage around the power lines will be conducted in the project area. In addition to improving reliability, adequate clearance is of great importance for the safety of the CL&P line workers who must work to restore power at night and during the inclement weather, Mr Stax explained. Tree trimming along the Newtown portion of the project is currently underway. Trimming in Monroe will begin in December and continue through early 2001.

Davey Tree crews will be working in the Monroe area under the direction of CL&P Regional Arborist Alan Carey and Monroe Tree Warden David Solek.

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 who have a question about the tree trimming work can contact Alan Carey directly at 800/286-5000.