Thursday, April 11, 2013
National Grid reiterates that "customer phone payments are accepted, but never demanded."
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Thursday, April 11
Editor's Note: The following information was submitted by National Grid National Grid again is reminding its customers of a nationwide utility bill scam. National Grid electric customers have received telephone calls from individuals claiming to work for National Grid. These scammers demand payment, through a pre-paid card, on past due balances for electric accounts and threaten customers that their service will immediately be shut-off for non-payment. In some cases the caller also tells the customer that they may have a faulty meter that is dangerous and in need of replacing for a substantial fee. The electric meter is the property of National Grid. Customers are not responsible for meter replacement costs. Callers are then directed to …
Friday, February 8, 2013
The power company was staging trucks in the city Friday in preparation for the storm.
Plow trucks aren't the only vehicles out on the road during major storms and this video of National Grid trucks staging in Marlborough is proof of that. The video comes from the company's Youtube page and shows trucks preparing for power outages that can come along with the high winds and heavy snow of a storm of this type.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
A Marlborough firm has been contracted as the project leader for National Grid's Smart Grid Pilot in Worcester.
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Wednesday, January 16
Bridge Energy Group has been chosen to as the project leader for a pilot program that will affect 15,000 customers, according to the Worcester Business Journal. The pilot program will use technology to allow customers to have more control and understanding of their energy use. Bridge will manage more than a dozen vendors and technologies over the course of the project, according to the Worcester Business Journal.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
National Grid was fined nearly $19 million, the highest fine levied against utilities in Massachusetts.
The state on Tuesday ordered a total of $24.8 million in penalties to utility companies for their response to storms in 2011. Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan joined Department of Public Utilities (DPU) Chairman Ann Berwick and DPU commissioners today to announce the findings of the DPU’s investigation into responses to Tropical Storm Irene and the October 2011 snowstorm. Provided the penalties hold up, customers should see a reduction in their bill, though it is unclear how much, officials said. National Grid faces the steepest penalty, at $18.725 million. NSTAR has been ordered to pay $4.075 million, while the Western Massachusetts Electric Company faces a $2 million penalty. National Grid told the …
Thursday, November 1, 2012
The two utility companies have had complaints in recent storms—Hurricane Irene and Snowtober—but say they stepped it up for Sandy.
Hurricane Sandy blew out of the region earlier this week, but not without causing massive power outages, some of which have yet to be fixed. Both National Grid and NStar say they did a better, faster job in fixing power outages than in previous storms, according to WBUR. Not everyone agrees, however. According to the story, Newton Mayor Setti Warren said NStar was faster, but there's still work to be done. Gov. Deval Patrick also told WBUR the companies worked faster, but said a "total victory" can't be declared. Do you agree? Have they improved since the last storm? Or is there still work to be done? Tell us in the comments.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Over 4,500 customers of National Grid in Marlborough were without power.
Shortly after noon Tuesday in Marlborough, 4,000 homes remained without power because of Hurricane Sandy, according to a representative from National Grid. As of 8 a.m. Tuesday 4,500 customers were out. The utility is now completing assessments of the affected areas. Once those assessments are finished—a process expected to be completed early Wednesday morning—individual outages will be assigned specific time frames for restoration. Restoration estimates could come tonight. Marcy Reed, president of National Grid in Massachusetts, in a conference call with media said until the assessments are completed, she couldn't say how long it will take for power to be completely restored. Once the assessments are done, the utility will share the …
Crews continue to restore power and clean up after Hurricane Sandy.
Although Marlborough avoided the flooding that ravaged other areas of the East Coast, the damage from Hurricane Sandy has left crews hard at work through the night dealing with the aftermath. “We had some trees down; nothing compared to last year but we did have some big trees come down," said Fire Chief James Fortin who said that at noon on Tuesday only seven secondary streets were considered blocked. The city made it through Hurricane Sandy with no reported injuries, he said. However, the weather did leave approximately 4,500 people without power overnight. “There was no rebuilding until this morning," said Chief Fortin. "After dark, it just slows everything down." He explained the ongoing winds into the night kept crews from rebuilding…
Thousands remain without power in Marlborough.
Update: According to Marlborough Fire Chief James Fortin the number of people without power in the city is 3,300 out of 18,000 National Grid customers. This is down from the morning number of 4,500. “National Grid has been here working with us in the operations center and we are getting a good handle on the storm," said Chief Fortin who explained the number has been reduced since even 10 a.m. National Grid did not have estimates on when power would be restored. “We have several lines and tree crews in the area that are making damage assessments and trying to restore power," said Charlotte McCormack, Spokesperson for National Grid. Original Article: According to the National Grid Power Outage Map, just over 1,600 customers are without power…
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
National Grid wants its customers to be aware of a new scam.
If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. National Grid is warning customers about a scam that claims the federal government will pay customers’ utility bills through a new program. No such program exists; if you feel you have been targeted, contact the Marlborough police. Customers have received solicitation through phone calls, door-to-door and online asking them for their social security number and bank routing numbers. Then customers are given fake account numbers to pay their bills. These are fraudulent account numbers and are not accepted by National Grid to pay customer bills. All National Grid employees are required to carry company photo identification. Most, but not all, National Grid employees also travel in clearly …
Friday, June 8, 2012
It may be late Friday before all homes in the Pleasant St. area have power restored.
UPDATE Friday, 1:03 p.m.: A section of Pleasant St. remains closed to traffic as utility crews continue to repair the damage from the accident. A neighbor who heard the crash said the female driver of the car was picked up by the driver of a truck who first asked if she was OK. As neighbors attempted to warn drivers, at least one car passed through the downed but live wires, the witness said. *** Police are searching for the driver of a car that struck a utility pole on Pleasant St. early Friday morning, leaving 200 homes in the dark. Marlborough Police Det. Scott DeCiero said a car was traveling southbound when it hit a pole near 121 Pleasant St. around 12:40 a.m. The driver may have fled the scene on foot, he said. "The operator has …
Robert Stoops
9:11 am on Tuesday, April 16, 2013
As soon as the caller demands "payments" to be wired through non-secure mode of money transfer service, it's a big red flag. So there's no reason to put up with the scammer. Hang up and report the call to http://www.callercenter.com to raise a warning. more ›