Eversource 2002 Annual Report Download - page 11

In 2002 NU opened a new state-of-the-art
Emergency Operations Center at our Berlin,
Connecticut, headquarters. Designed to ensure
a coordinated, safe, efficient response to any
emergency that might adversely affect our
customers, the Center serves as a central
command for disasters including major storms
and power outages. NU has a long heritage
and strong national reputation in emergency
management and has offered the Center to other
utilities as well as state and municipal officials.
Few things are as important to the communities we serve as reliable, reasonably priced
energy to keep homes and businesses running and the economy moving forward. Our
network of poles, wires and pipes provides a strong infrastructure for the safety, security
and stability of the region.
To help CL&P’s 87,500 small- to mid-size business customers – from “Mom and Pop”
retail stores to small manufacturers – CL&P opened a new Business Solutions Center in
Berlin, Connecticut. Our business solutions consultants provide a single point of contact
on technical issues such as power quality, reliability and energy efficiency.
WMECO launched two new products in 2002 to enhance service reliability. For participating
customers, our new Outage Notification Service provides the peace of mind that they
and WMECO will be alerted automatically of a power outage. This service is especially
helpful for physically challenged or medically dependent customers at home. Our new
residential Surge Protection Service protects homes in two ways – the device blocks
electric power surges from entering, with extra plug-in devices to provide a second level
of protection for sensitive electronic equipment.
To keep pace with its growing customer base and replace old and outdated equipment,
PSNH has invested more than $110 million in our transmission and distribution system.
These reliability improvements are helping to serve PSNH customers such as Fidelity
Investments. To meet Fidelity’s exacting needs, PSNH improved power quality and reliability
by reconfiguring the distribution system, which involved several substations in the Nashua
area. Thanks to PSNH, Fidelity’s customer service, bond trading, Internet and data center
operations can run smoothly.
Yankee Gas delivered more energy options to homeowners and businesses across
Connecticut, installing 12 miles of new natural gas pipeline. The choice of clean, reliable
natural gas had never been an energy option for the town of East Lyme until Yankee Gas
extended its distribution system through the town’s business district. East Lyme First
Selectman Wayne Fraser noted, “The expansion of natural gas into our commercial district
will make the town more competitive, helping us attract potential new businesses and
give existing businesses greater flexibility in their energy choices.” The second year of
Yankee’s planned multi-year system expansion supported local economic development
growth and the energy reliability needs of businesses in 11 communities, including three
industrial parks.
In our competitive business group, Northeast Generation Services Company completed
projects throughout New England to upgrade utility substations for increased energy
security. A growing number of power generation and industrial customers also looked
to us for a range of reliability services from plant modernization to fuel cell operations.
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