National Grid Reveals Plans to Solve Foxborough’s Power Outage Problem

National Grid, in an informational video, has revealed details to its short and long-term plans to address Foxborough’s problem with power outages.

The plan, according to Ryan Constable, National Grid Distribution Asset Manager, calls for reinforcement of the sub-transmission Union Loop system by increasing wire size and establishing a new connection point for Foxborough.

“New connection point [will be established] for a new source of power in North Foxborough,” Constable said. “When we have this new source of power we will be able to reduce distribution distances and reduce the exposure for the customers in the north and eastern portions of the area and improve the reliability.”

The wire size increase on existing wood poles is expected to be completed in the next 1-4 years, according to Constable, while establishing Foxborough’s new power source will likely take 5-8 years to complete.

“These are complex issues that will not be solved overnight,” Constable said. … “With the community’s support, we hope to implement it over the next 5-8 years.”

National Grid’s information video outlining its short and long-term plans to address the town’s ongoing issue with the Union Loop was the result of a November 2012 meeting between the utility company’s officials and Foxborough selectmen.

“The Board of Selectmen held a special meeting [in November 2012] with National Grid President Marcy Reed and her crew of technical and management staff,” said Foxborough Board of Selectmen chair James DeVellis. “Our board asked National Grid to tell us the details of their short and long-term maintenance and improvement program and how it will affect all of us.”

The meeting was “very informative,” according to DeVellis, who pointed out the town and National Grid have “taken big steps” since the mass power outages experienced from Hurricane Sandy.

“We are now seeing the benefits specific to Foxborough as experienced in [the Blizzard of 2013],” DeVellis said.

The informational video, which can be viewed in the photo gallery above and seen on Foxboro Cable Access, provides a simple overview of National Grid’s plan to address the Union Loop.

“We asked National Grid to put together an informational video for our residents in layman’s terms about Foxborough’s electricity loops so our residents can stay informed,” DeVellis said. “They delivered on it and it will be broadcast very soon on FCATV. It is short, informative and to the point. I want to thank National Grid for their responsiveness.”

How We Got Here

The November 2012 meeting between National Grid and Foxborough officials was the result of the town’s third mass power outage – caused by a storm – in one calendar year. Seventy-five percent of Foxborough was without power at the peak of Hurricane Sandy and it was determined the cause of all three of these major power outages is the Union Loop.

Selectmen voiced their frustrations with the power outages and the Union Loop and voted to file a formal complaint against National Grid with DPU to discuss the Union Loop. DeVellis reached out to Reed and invited her and National Grid representatives to a BOS meeting in November but Reed suggested a smaller, private meeting to discuss the town’s frustrations and concerns with the Union Loop. That meeting was held this past November.

Read more from that meeting by clicking here.