Storm Update: Power Restored to Over 28,000 Customers, Restoration Efforts Continue

Nearly 200 frontline and vegetation management workers respond to 4,900 outages overnight; efforts ongoing for remaining +800 customers

ORANGE, Conn. — February 17, 2025 — United Illuminating (UI), a subsidiary of Avangrid, has restored power to more than 28,000 customers following widespread outages caused by severe winter weather from Saturday night into Sunday morning. The storm, which brought heavy snow, ice, and rain, caused ice buildup on power lines and trees, leading to downed wires and equipment damage. By 5 a.m. Sunday, nearly 200 frontline and vegetation management workers had restored power to 28,741 customers. Restoration efforts are now focused on 186 outages affecting approximately 885 customers.

 

“Our team has made significant progress in restoring power to thousands of customers, but our work is not yet complete,” said Christine Pariseau, Senior Manager of Regional Operations at UI. “Our frontline and vegetation management crews are working around the clock to safely restore service to the remaining homes and businesses, prioritizing safety in challenging weather conditions. We appreciate our customers' patience and understanding as we continue our efforts.”  

At the storm's peak, more than 12,000 customers were impacted, with additional outages reported as fallen trees and branches caused further damage. By Sunday evening over 15,000 customers had their power restored within hours. Crews continue to work closely with municipalities to remove fallen trees, clear blocked roadways, and provide updates on restoration efforts. Current weather conditions are bringing heavy winds to the area, and UI is actively monitoring the situation.

As a safety reminder, customers should move over one lane when passing utility vehicles stopped on the roadside. Avoid touching any downed or low-hanging wires and never attempt to remove tree limbs from power lines. Customers should report any downed power lines via UI’s outage reporting page.

 

Media Contact:
Marina Bach
Marina.bach@avangrid.com 
203-859-0883