Power Generator Message from the Town Manager

TOWN OF HULL

Town Manager’s Office

                                                                                                                                         

UPDATE ON INSTALLATION OF EMERGENCY GENERATORS

November 24, 2020

In late October, I requested Light Department Operations Manager Tokadjian and Assistant Operation Manager Schmitt to investigate renting temporary generators to power the Town in the event National Grid’s electric feed failed.  In 2020 we have suffered six town wide outages because of the poor condition of the National Grid lines that provides power to Hull.  If the Town were to lose power in the winter months, during this period of Covid emergency, it is not feasible for the Town to operate a shelter and it is difficult for residents to find alternate shelter out of Town in the event of a failure. 

The Hull Light Department will be renting five generators for the period of December 1^st thru March 31^st to provide power in the most difficult months of winter.  This decision was made, in consultation with the Light Board and Board of Selectmen as well as Chief Russo in his role as Emergency Management Director.  The system is manually activated and will power on after approximately two hours.  It will require a one hour period to power off when the line from Weymouth is ready to be restored.  While any outage is always difficult, an outage in winter months with little opportunity to find comfort out of Town warrants the expenditure for this temporary service.  The cost is estimated to be $850,000 for the four month period and will be paid for from the Light Department’s emergency fund.

I would like to thank Mr. Tokadjian and Mr. Schmitt for their diligence, creativity and persistence in installing the project on time.  I would also like to thank all members of the Light Board for their full support in this endeavor.  The Board of Selectmen extends their appreciation to the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Commissioner Jim Montgomery and key DCR staff members, Susan Kane, Craig Cashman and Kevin Conway who all worked quickly to assist the Town to permit the generators to be located on the DCR parking lot adjacent to George Washington Boulevard.   

While this is not a permanent solution to the instability of the National Grid line it will provide relief for this winter.  We are in the process of finalizing a legal filing to compel National Grid to replace the current line with one that is more robust and less susceptible to failure.  We expect to file legal action shortly.  Thank You. 

Phil Lemnios
Town Manager