Eversource Delivers Significant Reliability Improvements to Customers

BERLIN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

As 2015 comes to a close, Eversource is pleased its customers are seeing an increase in reliability. Significant investments in Connecticut's electric grid are proving their worth, with outages happening less frequently and lasting less time when they do. This year, in Connecticut alone, Eversource invested $750 million in improvements to its system.

"The reliability improvements we're seeing clearly show our investments in the electric system are benefiting our customers," said Ken Bowes, Vice President of Connecticut Engineering at Eversource. "We all remember the historic storms of the last several years – building a better, stronger, smarter grid will improve reliability for our customers no matter the weather."

Since the company's 2012 merger, the frequency of outages across Eversource's service area has decreased by 18 percent and the amount of time it takes to restore power has decreased by 26 percent. These achievements are the result of the company strengthening the electric system with the latest technology designed to make the grid smarter and more resilient. Year-round attention to reducing tree-related power outages also plays a critical role in the improved reliability Eversource customers are experiencing.

"We're grateful that our regulators recognize the value of investing in the electric grid to improve resiliency and reliability," added Bowes. "With their support, we're committed to continuing with our system improvement plans in 2016 and beyond."

Eversource's investments to increase the efficiency, reliability and resiliency of the electric system are making it significantly less vulnerable to weather-related outages and better able to meet customers' electricity needs. This includes proactive tree trimming and related work, upgrading equipment and adding high-tech automation to allow the company to restore power more quickly. In 2015, the company installed 18 miles of thicker electric wire, 2,200 new utility poles and trimmed troublesome trees along more than 3,600 miles of power lines in Connecticut. Additionally, automatic line smart switch devices have been added to the system, which allow the company to reroute electricity around trouble spots, helping reduce the number of customers affected by an outage.

The investments will continue next year with additional system upgrades, including tree trimming and grid strengthening projects.

For more information about how Eversource is working to ensure the electric system keeps pace with the region's growing power needs, while also lessening the effects of severe weather, visit Eversource.com.

Eversource ES transmits and delivers electricity to 1.2 million customers in 149 cities and towns and provides natural gas to 220,000 customers in 71 communities in Connecticut. Eversource harnesses the commitment of its approximately 8,000 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of delivering reliable energy and superior customer service. For more information, please visit our website (www.eversource.com) and follow us on Twitter (@EversourceCT) and Facebook (facebook.com/EversourceCT).

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151217006161/en/