So, today we’re being hit with yet another winter storm, which could deposit up to 1/2 inch of ice during the afternoon hours. Here’s a snippet from a Union Leader Article with comments from local utility spokespersons:
Martin Murray, spokesman for PSNH, does not anticipate a repeat of the historic ice storm of Dec. 11-12, which left 322,000 customers without power at its peak and kept some in the dark for nearly two weeks.
“I predict we won’t see that again in my lifetime,” he said yesterday. “We don’t need that.” Unitil, which is facing a customer revolt in some of its towns, was quick yesterday to detail its work in participation of today’s storm.
Spokesman Wesley Eberle said the company is prepared to immediately open an enhanced emergency information center with direct contacts for community leaders and elected officials; initiate a mutual aid request to arrange for emergency field crews to be available today; and provide overflow lines and additional staffing to handle customer calls.
Don’t know about you all, but it sounds like tiny Unitil which is (rightfully) getting it’s ass kicked in the arena of public opinion seems to be taking this a helluva lot more seriously than PSNH, at least from a planning perspective. I love the hubris demonstrated by the pompous asshole Murray, who claims we won’t see another storm like this in his lifetime. I can only hope this pig-eyed sack of shit means that he’ll be shaking off this mortal coil soon and a more enlightened communications professional will be taking his place. I’ve soon two multi-day power outages in the last 4 years in New Hampshire, both caused by ice storms. To think that we won’t see another, and that nothing has changed since the last time is myopia of Mr. Magoo proportions.
I’m guessing we’ll be without power at some point today. Trust me when I say I’ll continue to keep the heat on these PSNH assholes as long as it takes. Stay tuned, and keep your fingers crossed.
RJ's Musings 
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January 29, 2009 at 7:16 pm
ScaiacS
Read your PSNH Sucks blog. I really feel sorry about what you and many others have gone/are going through.
Either you or someone else in this thread asked “Why doesn’t PSNH put the lines underground?”
I can only conjecture that it ultimately washes down to job security. There really is no reason why power lines can’t be placed underground in many cases, other than the aforementioned — though I’m certain PSNH will say otherwise.
Here’s an encapsulated version of my very own extremely negative experience with PSNH several years ago, which resulted from my wishing to bury my power lines underground:
My place is landlocked, the power was regularly being knocked out because it ran some 500 feet plus through the trees, etc. I consulted with local PSNH. They told me what I had to do. I did the digging, purchased the proper conduit for phone and power transmission, buried them, even used the required thickness of concrete all ’round where it ran over ledge. Came the day of blessing from PSNH, the guy came out to my site, blessed it saying I’d done an excellent job. Then the cable was supposed to be pulled through by PSNH workmen couple days later as agreed.
Well this never happened for quite a while: I was guaranteed hookup hot on the heels of my completing the work by a certain date. I finished well ahead of that date. Then, well beyond that date, after trying to contact a very evasive head honcho at PSNH, to just get their part of the job done so I could go to power, I get: “Sorry, see you next year.” No kidding, and man did this hurt.
I was livid. I contacted everyone possible, save a lawyer — if I’d been thinking I would have but I’m not litigious, unfortunately. Eventually, I wrote to Northern Utilities in Connecticut, months passed, winter was closing in… A guy calls me from his cellphone, obviously in traffic somewhere on a highway and has the gall to chide me for writing and being persistent.
I eventually did get my power hooked up — apparently (apparently, because I wasn’t there but away on business) A fleet of vehicles arrives on my property and accomplishes, months later, what they easily could and should have accomplished months earlier.
So that’s it … oh, and I’ll close by saying that I just today, 01/29/2009, got an estimated bill from PSNH, a supposed meter reading, that is only five times above my normal bill! Just phoned PSNH to have my power turned off. And if the Great Wazette is willing, I will never have to deal with these hucksters again! Because if I do, this time I’m bringing a lawyer. ScaiacS
January 30, 2009 at 3:53 pm
K9 Rescue Guy
Typical PSNH (“PSNH Sucks”). Tell you one thing, do another. One hand doesn’t know what the other is doing. Inconsistent or non-existent information. Shitty customer service. I’m glad you’re free of them – I have no choice.