CL&P Reliability Improves

In First Half Of 2000

HARTFORD — Reliability on the Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) electric system in the first six months of 2000 improved 11.7 percent over the record set for the same period one year ago, according to CL&P.

On average, CL&P’s 1.1 million customers were without power 42.4 minutes from January 1 to June 30, compared to 48 minutes for the same period in 1999. Outages in the first quarter of 2000 were down to a record 13.8 minutes, compared to 23.2 minutes for January, February, and March of 1999. Outages in this year’s second quarter of 28.6 minutes compared to 24.9 minutes over April, May, and June of 1999.

Aided by a mostly mild winter and spring, the first half of 2000 was the best for any six-month period since 1988, when CL&P launched a major tree-trimming program and other reliability equipment improvement measures. Not included in the statewide outage figures was a series of severe thunderstorms in May and June. To maintain consistency, state regulators allow exclusion of widespread power interruptions, such as major storms, to normalize weather conditions when reporting reliability of service.

CL&P President Hugh C. MacKenzie said, “We are gratified that we’re able to carry on through the first half of this year the record reliability achieved in 1999. This high performance of service to our customers remains the primary goal of CL&P and its employees.”

CL&P (www.cl-p.com) provides electric service to 149 communities in Connecticut and is part of the Northeast Utilities System – the largest electric utility in New England.