Power outage zaps Braintree

November 18, 2008 11:34 AM Email| Comments (14)| Text size – +

By Anne Baker, Globe Correspondent

Electricity has been restored to Braintree today after a massive outage left 3/4 of the city without power. The 45 minute outage darkened traffic lights and train signals and affected some 8,400 power customers.

The outage was caused by a National Grid contractor who was digging and struck one of the town's primary transmission lines, said JoAnn Stak Bregnard, marketing and programming director for the Braintree Electric Light Division. City officials were not aware that National Grid was digging in the area, and it is investigating the status of its Dig Safe permit, Bregnard said.

The outage occurred at about 8:15 a.m., said Bob James, Braintree's director of emergency services. The majority of power had been restored to the city by 9 a.m. Braintree is currently running on a backup system, Bregnard said. It will take about a week to repair the damage, she said.

No accidents were reported on roads with dark traffic lights. Braintree Police directed traffic. The MBTA did not have any reports of subway or commuter rail delays, according to Joe Pesaturo, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

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14 comments so far...

They directed traffic?

Not during my commute. They sat next to the power trucks and watched traffic go by.

It isnt made up when we say details are not needed.

Posted by Greg November 18, 08 11:32 AM

Not during my commute either - they sat in the parking lot and watched the traffic jams.

Posted by Jen November 18, 08 12:00 PM

If the detail wasn't on-site, traffic probably wouldn't be moving at all.

Then we could complain about how traffic wasn't moving b/c there was no one on detail.

Posted by John November 18, 08 12:50 PM

I have noticed detail cops doing ( or not doing!) the same thing. What's the point of paying them to be there then?? If they aren't going to help move the flow of traffic wouldn't the funds be of more use elsewhere>

Posted by fanny brice November 18, 08 01:01 PM

The crew was actually digging at 8:15 AM? Holy cripes! Things are getting better!

Ignoring DIGSAFE = more work for union buds. Oh yeah, I guess things don't change.

Posted by Joe November 18, 08 01:34 PM

I was really scared! ;-)

Posted by DavidDavidDavid November 18, 08 02:13 PM

what ever happened to Dig Safe...apparently they do not live by there own words. They again what company or municipality does, let just keep piling on the consumers and tax payers pay...love it!

Posted by uh, again November 18, 08 02:22 PM

My kid goes to BHS and the school dismiss the kids early because of some kind of pipe burst or electric outage. But the school would not let them back in to get their coats and personal belongings. I am not please that they did not let them back in to get their coats cause it is freezing cold out today!

Posted by Jen November 18, 08 03:18 PM

Interesting, Braintree has their own Electric Department. What was National Grid doing in Braintree? De-regulation has been unfortunate. Towns similar to Braintree (ex. Wellesley, Middleboro) have their own municipal lighting and electric departments, resulting in considerably less expensive electric costs for the consumers. No CEO's to pay off, just cost of providing service. Time to kick National Grid out of Massachusetts.

Posted by Phil November 18, 08 04:33 PM

Posted by Phil November 18, 08 04:35 PM

There was absolutely no one directing traffic when I went from Weymouth to Braintree at 8:30 am. It was practically mayhem getting out of the South Shore Mall Road parking lot on to Rte. 37.

Posted by Braintree November 18, 08 04:45 PM

and how much to WE pay for those details........

Posted by joanne skelly November 18, 08 04:46 PM

"I have noticed detail cops doing ( or not doing!) the same thing. What's the point of paying them to be there then?? "

You don't get it. The point of paying them extra is to pay them extra. The beneficiary is the unionized cop, NOT YOU!
Detail work is overtime, paid for by the electric company, which gets passed along as higher electric prices, which drives jobs out of state. Isn't it only fair to have a little more unemloyment so another cop can join the 100K club?

Posted by Bubba November 18, 08 04:49 PM

Braintree may have a mayor but it is not a city...hello, accuracy-optional editors at the Globe, are you paying attention...

Posted by danfla November 21, 08 10:30 PM