Crime & Safety

Attleboro Mayor: City Left in the Dark by National Grid [VIDEO]

Attleboro officials are doing what they can to force National Grid workers to provide service in the city beyond 10 p.m. Wednesday night.

Attleboro Mayor Kevin Dumas said National Grid will be investigated for its lack of response and communication in response to Tropical Storm Irene. Senator Richard Ross (Wrentham) is filing an investigation into National Grid's response to several cities in the Commonwealth including Attleboro according to Dumas. 

The Mayor, who held a press conference at 3 p.m., said National Grid has not provided the city with accurate information on power outages since the start of the storm. Dumas is working to stop National Grid from allowing its crews to stop work in Attleboro by 10 p.m. Dumas said allowing workers to go home at 10 p.m. with more than 67 percent of the city out of power (more than 12,000 customers) is simply "not acceptable." 

Dumas has reached out to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, Gov. Deval Patrick and Senator Richard Ross about the lack of communication and response by National Grid. 

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"I am greatly disappointed with this lack of communication between National Grid and municipalities,” said Senator Ross. “I find it unacceptable that local officials have no access to information regarding power restoration and safety concerns in their communities.”

Just after the mayor's press conference, National Grid MA President Marcy Reed said crews will work around the clock to restore power to Attleboro and surrounding neighorhoods that are connected to Union Loop. That includes Attleboro, Foxboro, Plainville, Bellingham and Rehoboth.

Find out what's happening in Attleborowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Reed said the first shift ends at 10 pm, but workers on the second shift will start immediately after. Crews have been called in from Texas, Kansas, Wisconsin and Canada to provide restoration to Massachusetts.

Stay tuned for video from the press conference where officials address food, power, water and emergency calls.  


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