Page 18 - BusinessWest August 17, 2020
P. 18

Current Events
For Utilities, COVID-19 Has Been a Different Kind of Storm Surge
TBy George O’Brien
ony Contrino says Westfield Gas & Electric, like all utilities, has consider- able practice watching storms develop,
getting ready for possible damage, and, as the old saying goes, hoping for the best but pre- paring for the worst.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been like that — sort of, said Contrino, general manager of West-
“It’s certainly a different, and very challenging, time — for us, but also for all our customers.”
field G&E. It could be seen coming, and there were certainly efforts to prepare for it. But the pandemic is, in most all ways, not like weather events like Tropical Storm Isaias, which barreled through Western Mass. earlier this month, leav- ing sometimes days-long power outages up and down the Valley and creating huge headaches for utilities — and the customers they serve.
Indeed, those storms come and go, the dam- age is repaired, and life goes — until the next storm. This crisis is different, not only in its dura- tion, but in its far-reaching effects — everything
 from a significant drop in electricity use (7% to 10% are the most often- given estimates), and its impact on the bottom line, to an equally sharp rise in delinquent payments, which also affects the bottom line, to changes in how work is carried out — right down to putting one person in each truck, rather than two.
But as with those weather events, area energy providers are working their way through this crisis, adapting and pivoting, as businesses in all sectors have, and encountering challenges
and opportunities — again, like most all other businesses have. But, unlike many businesses, they’re providing a vital service, and thus they’re being dili- gent about working with, and commu- nicating with, those they serve.
   “It’s certainly a different, and very challenging, time — for us, but also
for all our customers,” said Contrino.
“We’ve made a real effort to commu-
nicate through all this, not only with
employees but customers as well. We’re trying to keep people aware of what’s going on and what our plans are, and try to give them some assur- ance that we want to work with them.”
Tony Contrino says his utility’s extensive practice with preparing for weather events has certainly helped in its efforts to cope with the pandemic.
Craig Hallstrom, Eversource’s president of Regional Electric Operations for Massachusetts and Connecticut, agreed. He said the investor- owned utility has been working to keep the power on — yes, Isaias has certainly impacted
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    18 AUGUST 17, 2020
COVID-19
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