NSTAR: Weston Near 100 Percent Restoration; Homeowners Should Assess Wires

As of this morning, as a result of Saturday's snowstorm.

NSTAR spokesman Mike Durand encouraged anyone who still lacks power to contact NSTAR at 800-592-2000. He said, however, that the situation could be outside the scope of what the electric company can repair.

“When we get to this point in the restoration, it’s important to note in some cases a customer will need an electrician and a wire inspection,” Durand said.

He explained that the power company is responsible for the wires along the streets as well as the service wire that runs from the street directly to each house. It's possible, Durand said, that NSTAR could restore power to a neighborhood, but an individual house could remain in the dark if that service wire that connects the house to the main wires is damaged.

An electrical crew could miss damage to that wire, Durand said, so it's important to let NSTAR know if there's damage to the service wire.

In some cases, however, the damage occurs between where the service wire meets the house and where it connects to the meter socket on the house. That portion of the wire -- from connection to the house to the meter socket (but not the meter itself) -- is owned by the homeowner. Damage to that section of the wiring will require an electrician as NSTAR doesn't have jurisdiction to repair that area.

Durand said it's "usually very obvious" when there is damage to that portion of the wiring.

Sometimes there can be damage to wires, but a house will still have power, Durand explained. If the connection hasn't been broken entirely, power will still be present, but the wires certainly need to be repaired, Durand said.

He recommended homeowners look at the wires around their houses to assess whether there is any damage -- even if power is present.