Hudson plans two-hour power outage to accommodate line maintenance
HUDSON — Hudson Light and Power customers will be without power for two hours early on Saturday to accommodate required maintenance on a power transmission line that connects Hudson and Stow to the power grid.
Hudson Light and Power, which maintains the town's power plant and energy usage, said the transmission line that connects Hudson's power plant on Cherry Street will need to be shut down in order to provide needed maintenance. The shutdown will begin around midnight Friday and is expected to last about two hours, with power being restored about 2 a.m. Saturday.
Because the power plant also provides power to Stow, customers in that community will also be without power during that time.
The required maintenance comes after an incident on Dec. 23, when severe weather led to significant power outages in Hudson. While Hudson Light and Power was able to get power back online later that evening, the resulting damage to the transmission line led to this week's required maintenance.
Hudson Fire Chief Bryan Johannes, who serves as the town's emergency management director, advised residents to make sure that all necessary items that require a battery are well charged before power is turned off.
"Any portable item that uses a battery that people are going to need during the outage, it's very important that they are well charged, or residents have batteries ready," Johannes said. "People should also always have flashlights in their house. All of our emergency stations in Hudson have their own generators, and we will be available during the outage. If you have an emergency during the outage, do not hesitate to call 911."
While most MetroWest and Greater Milford customers are served by National Grid or Eversource, Hudson and Stow residents get their electricity through Hudson Light and Power, a community-owned municipal utility. It provides power to more than 13,000 customers, according to its website.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Hudson Light and Power plans two-hour shutdown for maintenance work
