Investigation of ice storm response

(WWLP) - The State Department of Public Utilities has opened an investigation into the electric utilities response to restore power following the December 12th ice storm.

The hilltowns across the state and here in western Massachusetts suffered major damage. Many were without power for days and even weeks.

22NEWS asked hilltown residents if they thought the response by the utility companies was adequate.

Chris Robie of Middlefield told 22News, "I think the companies did a great job because there were a lot of powerlines down. I was actually in Westfield the night of the storm and when I was coming back home I couldn't believe how may powerlines were down so I think the did a fine job."

The state Department of Public Utilities says it will hold its first public hearing on January 27th into the response by Massachusetts utilties to the ice storm last month.

The hearing will be held at Memorial High School in Fitchburg, where some customers served by Unitil waited almost two weeks for their power to be restored after the storm.