This issue was called into our office on July 10 and reported to our electrical subcontractor. Initial report is no power at base. They will return Tuesday to confirm if the issue is a result of a bad connection at the transformer to the pole. Estimated update on Wednesday.
NStar was notified to fix the issue. Unlike tree trimming the town can't step in and correct the problem due to inaction. Weekly reminders will be sent.
Just to let you know this street light is still out, could you please reach out to NStar again. Thank you, I know you said it's "low priority" but it's been 2 months.
I just want to reiterate that this is not a "low priority" for the Department of Public Works but is one for NStar. With over 1,500 billable street lights in Town the loss of 1 is not a high priority for them. Our Department has reached out to a third person and may have made progress in getting someone out to examine the padmount transformers to confirm the cause of the failure.
After numerous phone calls and e-mails the DPW felt like it has made progress with NStar on getting someone to examine the transformers to confirm if the problem is a corroded connection that NStar is required to fix. If the problem is not a corroded connection then the problem is in the underground cable. Many of the cables were direct buried and would require expensive replacement so the DPW wants to confirm the scope of work required so competitive bids can be requested to perform this work. Without NStar confirming the problem is not at their transformers the Town would engage blindly into costly repairs which is not far to taxpayers. Despite confirmation on September 10, 2014 of NStar intent to examine the transformers no further communication has been received and phone calls and e-mails have gone unanswered. At this point if residents would like to leave a voice-mail requesting NStar examine the transformers as requested by the Stoneham DPW they can contact Andrew Winters at 617-369-5535. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Back on 9/22 I spoke with Andrew Winters and he actually said it was a DPW issue and was going to call me back it is now 10/22 and the street light is still out. As you can imagine it is quite frustrating I have left several messages for him. Is there really nothing the DPW can do? Thank you
Similar to the Town’s responsibility to provide services to the customer’s property, NStar must ensure they are supplying electricity to the Town right of way. Our electrical contractor has determined there is no power at the base of this, and many other, lightpole bases. The Department has been requesting an inspection of the padmount transformers (large green boxes) that provide electricity to these lights. In the past, especially with overhead wires, a corroded connection has been the problem. A corroded connection at the point where electricity is fed to the Town is the responsibility of NStar. It would be a disservice to the residents of the Town to order underground repairs in the tens of thousands of dollars without knowing 100% that the problem isn’t the responsibility of NStar to fix.
Residents in the Skyewood, Dapper Darby, Laurie area have be seeing their street lights back in service after NStar ran the necessary underground wire and recently activated it. The Department will continue to press for a proper investigation of this street light as well as the ones on Fieldstone, Citation, Mayflower and other areas who have been patiently waiting.
As you may be aware the Department of Public Works has been dealing with outages in the Citation Ave area and was attempting to have NStar rectify the situation since April of 2014. Instead of ordering repairs, the Department fought for the residents by making repeated phone calls, sending numerous e-mails and holding a few meetings. In the end persistence paid off and NStar made their repairs.
The lights in the Citation Ave area are now operational again at NO COST to the Town. If the Department ordered the repairs (conduit, cable, and asphalt repairs) the cost would have been roughly $45,000 and the lights wouldn’t have been operational as the problem was not the cable or the light fixtures but with NStar.
Corrective action is still being pursued in other areas such as Fieldstone Drive and Pebble Place.
This is now 1 year later of an unresolved issue. Exactly a year ago I reported a street light out (it’s a dark area w/ a lot of trees & brush) kids were throwing rocks from this spot at the houses on the adjacent street (check police report of broken window) well 6/12/15 pm they are back and my neighbors & I have found rocks & golf balls in our yards. What is the plan to get this light up and working? An immediate response is greatly appreciated. Thank you
Can we get a temporary solution put in place? This light has been out over a year!!
Is there someone else at Eversource we can contact to try and get this resolved?
Eversource looked into this and confirmed it was the town's responsibility to fix. Do we have any movement at all on this? The light has been out for 14+ months now and the area where the light is, is very dark at night.
24 Comments
Acknowledged Stoneham DPW 2 (Registered User)
Stoneham DPW 2 (Registered User)
SomethingsBroken (Registered User)
lawler family (Registered User)
Stoneham DPW 2 (Registered User)
lawler family (Registered User)
Stoneham DPW 2 (Registered User)
Stoneham DPW 2 (Registered User)
lawler family (Registered User)
Stoneham DPW 2 (Registered User)
lawler family (Registered User)
Stoneham DPW 2 (Registered User)
Stoneham DPW 2 (Registered User)
lawler family (Registered User)
lawler family (Registered User)
Stoneham DPW 2 (Registered User)
Similar to the Town’s responsibility to provide services to the customer’s property, NStar must ensure they are supplying electricity to the Town right of way. Our electrical contractor has determined there is no power at the base of this, and many other, lightpole bases. The Department has been requesting an inspection of the padmount transformers (large green boxes) that provide electricity to these lights. In the past, especially with overhead wires, a corroded connection has been the problem. A corroded connection at the point where electricity is fed to the Town is the responsibility of NStar. It would be a disservice to the residents of the Town to order underground repairs in the tens of thousands of dollars without knowing 100% that the problem isn’t the responsibility of NStar to fix.
Residents in the Skyewood, Dapper Darby, Laurie area have be seeing their street lights back in service after NStar ran the necessary underground wire and recently activated it. The Department will continue to press for a proper investigation of this street light as well as the ones on Fieldstone, Citation, Mayflower and other areas who have been patiently waiting.
lawler family (Registered User)
Stoneham DPW 2 (Registered User)
As you may be aware the Department of Public Works has been dealing with outages in the Citation Ave area and was attempting to have NStar rectify the situation since April of 2014. Instead of ordering repairs, the Department fought for the residents by making repeated phone calls, sending numerous e-mails and holding a few meetings. In the end persistence paid off and NStar made their repairs.
The lights in the Citation Ave area are now operational again at NO COST to the Town. If the Department ordered the repairs (conduit, cable, and asphalt repairs) the cost would have been roughly $45,000 and the lights wouldn’t have been operational as the problem was not the cable or the light fixtures but with NStar.
Corrective action is still being pursued in other areas such as Fieldstone Drive and Pebble Place.
SomethingsBroken (Registered User)
Is there any update from Eversource on this issue? Thank You.
Stoneham DPW 2 (Registered User)
Underground feed problems. Will review against other areas to allocate limited funding.
New maintenance contract bids due Thursday. Will have updated pricing to gauge amount of work that can be prepared.
lawler family (Registered User)
SomethingsBroken (Registered User)
Is there someone else at Eversource we can contact to try and get this resolved?
SomethingsBroken (Registered User)
Closed Stoneham DPW 2 (Registered User)