Rhode Island Customers Experience Widespread Power Outages

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Crews making repairs to ensure power restoration after outages in Rhode Island.

News Summary

On Wednesday morning, Rhode Island faced significant power outages impacting over 9,000 customers primarily in Kent and Providence Counties. Rhode Island Energy reported approximately 5,705 customers without power due to issues at a substation. Although power was restored by 8:20 a.m., concerns over communication during outages were raised. Governor McKee criticized the company’s response and called for a review of their systems. Efforts to restore power involved numerous local and out-of-state crews, with progress made to return service to most customers by the end of July 6.

Providence, Rhode Island — Thousands of customers in Rhode Island experienced temporary power outages on Wednesday morning, with significant impacts felt particularly in Kent County and Providence County. By 8:00 a.m., approximately 5,705 customers were reported without power, primarily due to issues at one of Rhode Island Energy’s substations.

The initial outage affected nearly 9,000 customers in the Cranston area, causing widespread disruption just as the day began. Rhode Island Energy announced that power was fully restored around 8:20 a.m., but not before the situation prompted criticism about the company’s communication effectiveness during the event.

Governor Dan McKee expressed dissatisfaction with Rhode Island Energy’s handling of communications during a previous storm on July 3, which was noted for its severity. Following the storm, approximately 65,000 customers were without power at peak times, accounting for about 10% of Rhode Island Energy’s customer base. The hardest-hit areas included Riverside in East Providence, Barrington, Cranston, and Warwick.

In addressing the situation, executives from Rhode Island Energy were investigating inaccuracies with the outage map, a critical tool for consumers and service teams. The president of the company, Greg Cornett, indicated that there were routing issues affecting customer calls, which ultimately influenced the outage management system. For the first 48 hours following the storms, the outage map did not function properly; it was not until 9:30 p.m. on July 5 that the system operated as intended.

As restoration efforts continued, Rhode Island Energy had already deployed local crews and brought in additional personnel from neighboring states. A total of 40 line crews, 10 wires-down crews, and 30 tree crews were mobilized locally, complemented by more than 40 external tree crews and over 110 out-of-state line crews. These efforts were aided by enhanced infrastructure that had been implemented over time, which helped minimize the overall impacts of the storm.

Despite the challenges, progress was made quickly. By the afternoon of July 5, 95% of customers had their power restored. However, those remaining without service by the evening of July 6 encountered issues primarily related to street-side infrastructure. Customers still lacking power by July 7 faced additional complications tied to their homes and personal equipment.

In reaction to the storm’s unexpected severity, Rhode Island Energy did not initially anticipate the level of disruption it would cause. Cornett highlighted that future improvements are in the pipeline, particularly through the ongoing rollout of smart meters, which are expected to improve communication regarding outages.

Moreover, the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers plans to delve deeper into the communication issues experienced during this power outage. State officials are keen on preventing similar occurrences in future weather-related emergencies, particularly in light of Governor McKee’s call for a thorough review of communication systems at Rhode Island Energy prior to the next storm.

As of Friday, Rhode Island Energy estimated about 30,000 customers were still without power, despite the outage map reflecting 12,546 outages by 10 p.m. the same evening. Continuous monitoring and improvement of both service and communication are being prioritized as the state prepares for any further storm threats in the coming months.