Eversource

Eversource Ranks 20 Among 500 in Newsweek’s Green Ranking List of U.S. Companies

Eversource: Tree Trimming — Yours and Ours — Helps Prevent Electricity Outages

Eversource: What We’re Doing to Handle Peak Summer Electricity Demand

It’s Utility Project Summer for Darien as Gas, Water Projects Dig up Streets

If You Get a Home Energy Assessment for $99, You May Save More on Heating, Electricity Bills

Eversource, Town Officials Describe Natural Gas Expansion Project for Darien

Selectmen Plan to Buy Street Lights from Eversource, But Want a Price & ‘Audit’ First

Stevenson: ‘Final Details’ Stage for Agreement to Expand Natural Gas Service in Darien

Low Flying Helicopters Above Darien Are Surveying Electric Transmission Lines

Twice in a Week, Men Saying They’re Utility Workers Try to Get into Darien Homes

Part of Leroy Ave to Close Tuesday, Wednesday, Part of the Day

New Tech May Mean Darien Street Lights Cost Less, Do Much More

Part of Leroy Ave to Close Tuesday, Wednesday, Part of the Day

Business

By David Gurliacci | January 20, 2018

Business

By David Gurliacci | October 26, 2016

Business

By David Gurliacci | July 4, 2016

Business

By David Gurliacci | June 15, 2016

Around Town

By David Gurliacci | May 2, 2016

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By David Gurliacci | March 22, 2016

Government & Politics

By David Gurliacci | February 1, 2016

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By David Gurliacci | January 29, 2016

Business

By David Gurliacci | January 25, 2016

Public Safety

By David Gurliacci | November 24, 2015

Government & Politics

By David Gurliacci | August 16, 2015

Government & Politics

By David Gurliacci | August 4, 2015

Transportation

By David Gurliacci | June 17, 2015

Eversource Energy is once again being nationally recognized for its leadership in corporate sustainability and environmental performance, placing 20th among 500 U.S. companies in Newsweek Magazine’s annual Green Rankings list. ______________

— an announcement from Eversource. To learn more about sustainability in action at Eversource, view the company’s 2017 Sustainability Report. ______________
Eversource has been a consistent high performer in the annual survey. The 2017 list represents Eversource’s best overall performance to date among U.S companies, and it also placed fourth among U.S. utilities. “It’s very rewarding to see our commitment to environmental sustainability be recognized in this way,” said Eversource Chairman, President and CEO Jim Judge.

Living in one of the most forested states in the country means Connecticut residents have a unique appreciation for the value of trees to the landscape. But it also means we understand the devastating impact trees can have on the electric system, with trees accounting for more than 40 percent of all power outages. ______________

— The Darien First Selectman’s Office recently redistributed this announcement from Eversource. ______________

In addition to outages, trees can cause substantial damage to property if they fail. That’s why Eversource is reminding property owners to conduct routine tree maintenance and to consult with a licensed arborist for professional advice.

When summer temperatures soar, dramatic upticks in energy use to power air conditioning systems and fans put a strain on the grid. In an ongoing effort to fortify the system to handle peak demand, Eversource invests in upgrades to existing infrastructure to ensure customers enjoy reliable power, even when the region experiences extreme weather conditions. ______________

— an announcement from Eversource

______________

Investments like these allowed the company to deliver its best service for customers in 2015 and improve reliability in Connecticut by more than 50 percent over the last five years. “Strengthening the electric system is a year-round commitment to ensure our customers have reliable power during even the hottest summer days,” said Steve Gilkey, Vice President of Electric Field Operations for Eversource in Connecticut. “This work includes a wide range of preparations, including comprehensive ground, aerial and infrared inspections of our lines and equipment, along with ongoing maintenance and upgrades to the electric grid.”

ISO-New England, the operator of the region’s power grid, expects this summer’s demand for electricity could peak at 26,704 megawatts – up from last year’s peak of 24,398.

Eversource is replacing gas service lines beneath 5,000 feet of Darien streets this summer as Aquarion replaces about as many feet of water main lines under other town roads, according to separate announcements Wednesday.

Two of the projects start around June 20, according to the announcements. A third project, replacing a water line, starts soon after July 4. Natural Gas

For the gas lines, in a project which is completely separate from the planned extension of natural gas lines in town, West Avenue will see construction crews from the Stamford Border to Moore Street, on Moore Street itself as well as on Holmes Avenue, Robinson, Brown, Catherine, Hazel, and Kelsey Streets. Other streets where pipes will be replaced: Holmes Avenue, Robinson, Brown, Catherine, Hazel, Kelsey and Moore streets. Work is expected to end by September.

Eversource is reminding customers this is the perfect time to schedule a Home Energy Solutions (HES) assessment to begin increasing energy efficiency immediately, before temperatures outside dramatically change and there may be a scheduling wait. Although winter is behind us and the scorching days of summer are still a little ways off, saving energy and controlling home energy costs are important year round. “With summer right around the corner, now is the time to schedule an HES assessment to help control your home energy costs,” said Enoch Lenge, Eversource’s energy efficiency spokesman. “This checkup determines where your house is losing energy and if your heating and cooling systems are operating efficiently. It’s an easy and affordable way to stop losing heat in the winter and cool air in the summer.”

_________

— an announcement from Eversource

_________

Since 2010, more than 210,000 Eversource customers have taken advantage of Energize Connecticut’s HES assessment program or rebates.

Starting this summer, Eversource wants to start digging to install natural gas pipes along West Avenue and up to Darien High School and Royle School, according to a company official. Chris Luca, a project manager for Eversource, told the Board of Selectmen on Monday that the utility and the town are close to an agreement on a $4.2 million project to lay 18,700 feet of pipes in town — about 3 1/2 miles. Town officials and the utility plan to get streets near schools dug up and repaved before students return in the fall. The company is aiming to have gas service ready for spring of 2017, when developers of major commercial redevelopment projects in the Noroton Heights business district and Corbin Drive/Post Road hope to get construction started. Middlesex Middle School and the Noroton Heights Fire Department would also get gas service, which has been less expensive in recent years than oil heat.

Town officials expect to buy the 862 street lights in town from Eversource and hire Tanko Lighting Inc. of San Francisco to change them to LED lighting, a change they expect to save money, save energy, provide for better lighting and perhaps other improvements. The town is asking Eversource for a firm price on the street lights, along with 11 poles, which it expects to get in three or four weeks. Eversource previously gave the town a price, which has since expired, Public Works Director Ed Gentile told the Board of Selectmen on Monday night. The Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to approve a $16,000 expenditure to hire Tanko to conduct a survey of the lights in preparation for buying them. The total cost of buying the street lights and replacing the high-pressure sodium bulbs to various kinds of LED lights is expected to be about $380,000.

First Selectman Jayme Stevenson says town officials are “finishing the details” for an agreement with Eversource to expand natural gas service in town, including along all of West Avenue, and town officials want the service to extend to the high school and Royle School. Noroton Heights Fire Station on Noroton Avenue would also get natural gas as a result of the project, and town officials want to extend a line up Hollow Tree Ridge Road to Middlesex Middle School for service there, Stevenson said. Typically, natural gas is expected to be available to homes and businesses directly along the route to new locations like these — in this case from West Avenue. “We’re moving forward with putting the final details on the [natural] gas expansion project development agreement,” Stevenson said. “I’ve been talking with [Darien Public Schools Superintendent] Dr. [Dan] Brenner about it.”

The Darien Police Department has been getting “hundreds and hundreds” of calls from residents concerned about low-flying helicopters in the past week, says Sgt. Jeremiah Marron, a department spokesman. The choppers are surveying transmission lines with high-resolution cameras, according to a statement released by Eversource, formerly Connecticut Light & Power, and posted on the Internet by Darien Police. The project is “part of an ongoing effort to strengthen the power grid and increase reliability,” the utility said. “Photographs collected during these flights will help build a more detailed record of structures, lines and other electrical equipment which will increase the efficiency of maintaining the electric system in Connecticut,” the statement reads.

If you didn’t ask a utility to send someone over to your home, be suspicious if someone shows up saying he or she is from Aquarion or Experian or Yankee Gas and wants to come in. That just happened twice in a one-week period in Darien. In one case on Fitch Avenue on Nov. 23, an elderly man let a worker in, but he left after the resident asked a question indicating he was suspicious, and nothing is known to be taken. In another case, on Locust Hill Road on Nov.

Update, Sunday, Aug. 16:

Leroy Avenue under the railroad bridge will be closed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Tuesday, Aug. 18 and Wednesday, Aug. 19, the Darien Department of Public Works has announced. The section from West Avenue to Bailey Avenue will be closed, according to the announcement.

Imagine Darien’s street lights needing less maintenance, using less electricity, costing less, providing better light and maybe doing something more — like helping provide WiFi service to cars. That could happen in a few years with a combination of recent LED lighting technology, Internet technology, state regulations allowing towns to buy light fixtures from Eversource, and utility rebates for upgrading equipment — all of which is now available to Darien. Oh, one more thing — the town or even first responders in an emergency could adjust a street light if, say, more lighting was needed at an accident scene. Or the town could make a lighting adjustment at one particular street light if it was bothering a neighborhood. All these possibilities were brought up in a presentation Monday to the Board of Selectmen by Jack Hanley from ESCO Energy Services Company, a business that advises clients in ways to save money by adopting energy-efficient systems, and then helping to run them.

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Update, Sunday, Aug. 16: