Power Restored at Patriot Place, Gillette Leaves Foxborough Residents Angry

Outrage in Foxborough over the lack of response and communication from National Grid in regards to restoring power to the residents of Foxborough, grew stronger Tuesday as the power came back on at Patriot Place and Gillette Stadium.

"Power at Gillette but not for Foxboro residents, I guess we see where the priorities are in this town," said one Foxborough resident.

Foxborough residents are not the only ones displeased with the news and at National Grid. Town officials, including Town Manager Kevin Paicos, Police Chief O'Leary and Fire Chief Roger Hatfield, along with local representatives, held a meeting Tuesday at Town Hall over the power situation in Foxborough and over the outrage coming in from residents about the fact that Patriot Place is up and running with power. Town officials and residents are questioning how the Kraft organization was able to restore power while the rest of town is still lacking electricity.

Town officials questioned National Grid over the restoration of power at Patriot Place and Gillette Stadium. Gillette officials, however, revealed to town officials that the Gillette facility has two electrical feeds. One feed comes from Foxborough, the other from Wrentham, providing a backup in case of a power outage.

Town officials, however, are still displeased with National Grid's lack of communication.

"Its disrespectful, National Grid dropped the ball," said Paicos to the media. Paicos also noted that National Grid is not committing to any time line, but says that there are more trucks in Foxborough since their conference this afternoon.

"We are dependent on each other and disappointed in National Grid," echoed town safety officials. Senator James Timilty said, "[it has been a failure on the part of National Grid]." 

Timilty also called on legislators Tuesday to ask Gov. Deval Patrick to take “operational control” of the utility if National Grid continued to leave Foxboro residents without electric power.

The lack of communication between the town of Foxborough and National Grid has been thin, as National Grid began communication late Monday.

While the town waits on power, Foxborough officials are focused on helping the elderly in every way possible. The Kraft Organization has donated two, 900 kilowatt generators, that will help power the senior centers in town. HESSCO Elder Services is committed to providing food for the elderly.

Foxborough Patch was able to catch up with a National Grid truck Tuesday afternoon. One National Grid employee told Patch that he believed they had made progress, but said "that it takes a couple days to get things rolling." National Grid also noted that in these types of situations, an employee will first have to assess the situation and then begin to work on restoration. 

With a Patriots preseason game in Foxborough Thursday night, the question of public safety and traffic lights, has the full attention of Police Chief O'Leary who said "that extra police will be brought in to direct traffic and make sure the town remains safe." The Kraft Organization told Foxborough officials Tuesday night that they have offered to set up lighting towers at key intersections in town. 

Paicos noted that he does not know how Foxborough is going to handle 70,000 people Thursday night if the power is not restored and when town residents continue to sit without power, food, and air conditioning.

Still, the biggest question on Foxborough residents minds is, when will power be fully restored to Foxborough? That question, for now, remains unknown. The latest update from National Grid said that power could be restored to some parts of Foxborough by 6:00 p.m, August 31, but that full power restoration may not be completed until September 4.