Franklin Public Schools: Updated Information about Schools March 8, 2018 PM

Thursday, March 8, 2018

PM Update

Good evening, Franklin Families, Faculty, and Staff,

Earlier today, ten of our eleven schools were without power as a result of last night's storm. Some power has been restored, but many schools are still without it. We have been communicating closely with National Grid and the DPW, Facilities, Police, and Fire Departments throughout today to remain informed of power restoration activities within Franklin.

We are concerned about the widespread power outages at our schools and within neighborhoods, however restoration efforts are under way and will continue through the evening. Any decision that may be made to close schools tomorrow will be made between 5:00 and 5:30 AM.

Stay warm and safe. More information will be sent in the early morning hours.

Sincerely,

Franklin Public Schools

Parmenter School after a different snow storm

Franklin Residents: Storm Update March 8, 2018

Hello,

This is the Town of Franklin with an update on current conditions in Town. 

Approximately 50% of Franklin is currently without power. National Grid has crews on site, more are being dispatched today to help in the recovery effort. National Grid is anticipating full restoration within 72-hours.

The Town has opened three locations for warming and device charging: the Hockomock YMCA at Forge Park, which also has showers available, the Franklin Public Library and Franklin Fire Station Headquarters on West Central Street.

Trash and Recycling collection was NOT delayed today and is on schedule for Friday to be picked up on a regular schedule.

Please check the town website at www.franklinma.gov for the most up to date information.

Thank you,

Town of Franklin

Franklin Residents: Storm Update March 8, 2018

Urgent: Power Outage Update

Power Outage Update

Due to the power outages the Franklin YMCA is allowing residents with no power to use their facility to take hot showers and charge your phones and laptops etc.

For information about power outages please visit National Grid at:
https://m.nationalgrid.com  or call 1-800-465-1212

Read more

This is an automatic message from Town of Franklin MA. Please do not reply to this message.

Urgent: Power Outage Update

In the News: Session on how government works scheduled; NationalGrid changing rate request

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"A small group of dedicated residents is holding a community meeting they’re calling “Franklin Town Government 101.” 

The goal of the get-together is to field questions about how local government ticks, how residents can access more information, and how to have their voices heard. 

The first of what is expected to be multiple meetings will occur on Jan. 27 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Franklin Public Library, with a snow date of Feb. 3. 

Co-organizer and father of newly-elected town council member Eamon Earls, Alan Earls, said he’s not looking to kick up dust with town officials, but rather hopes to further unite them with their residents. 

“We don’t want it to be an ‘us versus them’ thing at all,” he said. “I realize (town officials) also have a really big challenge in working with the town, because many of us don’t know a lot of what happens, and how it works.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180111/franklin-meeting-to-share-with-residents-how-local-government-works

"National Grid will seek a smaller rate hike in Massachusetts than it originally requested, the utility company said Thursday, citing the benefit of the recent federal tax reform bill. 

The company announced that it will reduce its proposed rate hike for Bay Staters by $36 million -- from a total increase of $87 million to $51 million --due to unexpected savings the company is now expecting to see as a result of the federal corporate tax rate dropping from 35 percent to 21 percent. 

“We are committed to ensuring that the tax savings of the legislation are fully realized and are used to help our customers in their energy bills,” Cordi O’Hara, president and COO of National Grid in Massachusetts, said in a statement. “We’ll continue to seek opportunities to provide this benefit to all of our customers.” 

National Grid said it does not yet know exactly how the changed proposed rates will affect customers’ bills, but did say the change will “result in smaller impacts than originally proposed and will vary across rate classes and customer usage.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180111/citing-tax-law-national-grid-reduces-rate-hike-request

NationalGrid: Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness Tips

Hurricane Alert: Important safety information for our customers. To view this email as a web page, click here.

Hurricane Season: What you can do to prepare As our country deals with the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and for the potential of an even stronger storm, we'd like to remind our customers about the importance of planning ahead. September is National Emergency Preparedness Month and National Grid is encouraging our customers to take action and be prepared, as severe storms continue to disrupt daily life and put more lives at risk. Safety is National Grid's number one priority, and we want to ensure customers properly prepare to take care of themselves, their families, and their communities. How National Grid Restores Power How to Prepare for an Emergency Build an emergency supply kit. Water, nonperishable food, first aid materials, prescriptions, flashlight, batteries and a battery-powered radio are critical items to have in an emergency supply toolkit. A well-thought-out emergency plan and a fully stocked toolkit could mean the difference between life and death. Plan your locations. Emergencies and disasters occur without warning, making it important to have a plan and the supplies you will need for the different locations you and your family frequent beyond your home: work, school, vehicles, places of worship, for example, along with shopping areas and entertainment/sports sites such as theaters, ball fields and arenas. How will you get to a safe place? How will you contact one another? How will you get back together, if separated? These are all important questions to consider when creating your plan. Anticipate your risks. Think about where you live and identify the hazards that have happened or could occur in your area. Residents in areas that usually receive significant snowfall might plan more for snowstorms, while residents who live along the coast may be more affected by hurricanes. Depending upon the nature of the emergency and your circumstances, one of the first important decisions to make is whether to stay where you are or evacuate. You should understand and plan for both possibilities. No matter where you live, make sure you plan accordingly. Know your community's plan. Find out from local government how it communicates with residents in an emergency. This could be in the form of radio/TV broadcasts, telephone, door-to-door notifications or a community siren. Get informed now so you can stay informed when it counts. Stay connected to National Grid. Online at www.nationalgridus.com, complete information on managing storms and outages is available. Under our Storms and Outage page, National Grid's provides customers with easy tools for reporting and checking the status of an outage, power outage maps and important safety tips. Customers can opt-in to receive broadcast text alerts by texting the word STORM to NGRID (64743). For the latest storm updates, follow National Grid on Twitter @nationalgridus and connect with us on Facebook. Get Involved National Grid works closely with the American Red Cross to prepare the communities we serve for natural disasters. As part of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program, National Grid operates behind the scenes with the Red Cross and first responders to address the basic needs of our customers, such as food, shelter and water, during an emergency. The Annual Disaster Giving Program allows the Red Cross to help communities prepare for and recover from natural disasters. With support from National Grid and other companies, the Red Cross is able to respond to nearly 70,000 disasters each year. Recently, National Grid pledged an additional $100,000 to the Red Cross to aid in responding to Hurricane Harvey. We encourage customers to find volunteer opportunities to support community readiness. Taking an active role in community planning and preparation, supporting relief efforts, and donating funds or goods when you are able can help your neighbors in times of disaster. National Grid Here with you. Here for you.

©2017 National Grid This email was sent by: National Grid 40 Sylvan Road, Waltham, MA, 02451, U.S.A.

Announcement Regarding Tree Pruning for Aug-Sep-Oct

National Grid will have ABC Professional Tree Service in town for approximately three months starting August 23, 2017. They will be performing preventive tree pruning to their electrical lines throughout the town. 

If you have any questions you can contact Michelle Badolato at 508-482-1073.

Read more: http://www.franklinma.gov/node/136063

This is an automatic message from Town of Franklin MA

Announcement Regarding Tree Pruning for Aug-Sep-Oct

NationalGrid: Keep bills low as summer heats up

Keep bills low as summer heats up. nationalgridus.com. To view this email as a web page, click here.

With summer in full swing, temperatures are high and so is home electricity usage. Take advantage of our programs and solutions to help you take greater control of your energy use now, and year round. There are many cost effective ways to beat the heat without sacrificing comfort. We encourage you to follow these simple tips and visit ngrid.com/summerbills for even more ways to save. ▪ Draw blinds, shades, drapes – Close window dressings to block the solar gain during the hottest part of the day on south and west facing windows. ▪ Adjust the thermostat – Adjusting your thermostat a few degrees can lead to big savings on your bill. National Grid recommends a setting of 78 degrees or higher when you're home. A 75-degree setting will cost about 18 percent more than a 78 degree setting. ▪ Use programmable thermostats – Programmable thermostats allow you to set schedules to reduce cooling when the house is empty. ▪ Clean or replace air conditioner filters – Keep the air flowing freely by checking your air conditioner filter and replacing or cleaning it if it's clogged. ▪ Turn off fans – Fans don't actually cool your home; they only circulate air to make you feel cooler. Turn them off when you're not home or in a room where they're running. ▪ Unplug electronics – Even though your television and other appliances are turned off, many electronics still draw electricity (phantom load). Unplug any unnecessary electronics and chargers until you return home. An advanced power strip on your entertainment system can turn off the power to peripheral devices when the TV is not in use, reducing phantom energy use all year-long and saving you up to $60 annually. ▪ Use light timers, motion detectors – Many people like to leave a light on to make it seem like someone is home while they are away. Use a light timer instead for just a little while each evening. This saves energy and gives a more realistic impression of someone being at home. Rather than leaving your porch light on the entire time you're gone, install a motion detector to be used both when you're at home and away. ▪ Check refrigerator and freezer temps – The ideal refrigerator temperature is between 37 and 40 degrees. For the freezer the ideal reading is 5 degrees. ▪ Consider replacing or recycling older-model working refrigerators – Older model refrigerators often can use more than four times the energy of newer models and cost up to $150 a year to run. You can get paid to get rid of them with National Grid's recycling programs in Massachusetts that now pay $50 per unit (up to two per household). ▪ Choose the right dehumidifier – An ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifier removes the same amount of moisture from the air as a standard model but uses 15 percent less energy. You'll save up to $175 over the product's lifetime. And you'll save even more with a $30 rebate from National Grid. National Grid Here with you. Here for you.

National Grid - Summer bills

"We're in control of the situation"

"The town has gone out to bid for energy suppliers, looking to put into motion a plan that could save money for local electricity customers. 

Deputy Town Administrator Jamie Hellen said the state Department of Public Utilities has approved Franklin's municipal aggregation plan, which has the town seeking alternative suppliers and, hopefully, lower rates for its residents. He said the bidding process began on Oct. 7, and the town hopes to have preliminary pricing within the next few days. 

"(This) week is where the rubber meets the road," he said. "We'll see if there are savings, and what the savings might be."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161016/franklin-goes-out-to-bid-for-power

• Related posts

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/02/municipal-aggregation-program.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/10/in-news-national-grid-gets-rate-increase.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/03/live-reporting-legislation-for-action.html

cover page of presentation to Town Council on Aggregation Program

In the News: National Grid gets rate increase

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The Department of Public Utilities has approved a rate increase that will add about 5 percent to residential electric bill in National Grid’s service territory. 

The average will increase from $139 to $146. 

The agency approved $101 million of the $132 million sought by the company in its first distribution rate increase since 2009. 

The money will help pay for improvements to its facilities and its response to storm-related power failures."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161004/national-grid-bills-increase-7-month

cover page of presentation to Town Council on Aggregation Program

If the pending aggregation plan for Franklin goes through, this won't be an issue. The cooperative buying power of aggregation should do better than the current rate National Grid was authorized for.

Updated: Per the Town Council meeting, Wednesday, Oct 5, the aggregation plan was approved. They'll go to bid in the next two weeks and should have a decision to proceed at this time or not. The key will be what the market will offer for rates and for what period. Assuming the market rates will be lower than what NationalGrid received, this will go forward and we'll all save some money.

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/02/municipal-aggregation-program.html

In early August, it was reported the State was beginning to deliberate on the aggregation proposal

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/08/in-news-aggregation-plan-making.html

Municipal Aggregation Program

Franklin Officials Have Released the Town’s Community Choice Power Supply Program Aggregation Plan

The Town of Franklin developed the Aggregation Plan in compliance with Massachusetts law regarding public aggregation of electric consumers. It contains required information on the structure, operations, services, funding, and policies of the Town’s Plan. The Plan has been developed in consultation with the Town’s aggregation implementation consultant, Colonial Power Group, Inc. (CPG) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER).

The purpose of this Plan is to represent consumer interests in competitive markets for electricity. It seeks to aggregate consumers in the Town to negotiate rates for power supply. It brings together the buying power of over 32,000 consumers. Furthermore, the Town seeks to better manage energy prices. 

Participation is voluntary for each eligible consumer. Eligible consumers have the opportunity to decline service provided through the Plan and to choose any Competitive Supplier they wish. The Town has distributed this Plan for public review prior to submitting it to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities.

Public Review and Comment Period

The Town of Franklin’s Aggregation Plan is available for public review and comment from Friday, February 12, 2016, at 12:00 p.m. Noon through Tuesday March 8th, 2016, at 4:00 p.m.~

Any person who desires to comment may do so in person at the Town Clerk’s office or submit written comments using one of the following methods: (1) by e-mail to jhellen@franklin.ma.us; or (2) by postal mail to the address below.

Comments must be clearly marked Town of Franklin’s Aggregation Plan and must be received (not postmarked) by the end of the comment period in order to be addressed.

Jamie Hellen
Deputy Town Administrator
Town Hall
355 East Central Street
Franklin, MA 02038

Any questions pertaining to this should be directed to Jamie Hellen, Deputy Town Administrator at (508) 528-7900 x 4887.

Click here to read the Town of Franklin’s Aggregation Plan. An original hardcopy of the Plan is also available at the Town Clerk’s office.

A copy has also been posted here for your convenience




If your electricity is provided by NationalGrid you can download your recent information for further calculations. The supply rate is what the aggregation will enable savings for. The delivery charges will remain as they are from NationalGrid.

sign into your account and select "my usage and charts graph"

The municipal aggregation should do two things for our electric rate. (1) it should provide some stability in the rate and (2) it should lower the rate with the power of the group purchase.

the most recent 2 years of rates from NationalGrid

NationalGrid: Snow Storm Restoration Update - 2/6/16 AM

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National Grid Storm Restoration Update A message to our customers — February 6, 2016 Good Morning, What a difference a day makes – skies are clear and the sun is shining. Yesterday's snow storm hit the region harder than originally forecasted, and the heavy, wet snow caused significant outages.  We are grateful for your patience as our crews work to repair downed wires and restore all outages. Less than 24 hours from the start of the storm, we had already restored power to close to 80% of impacted customers in MA, and 60% of impacted customers in RI. We intend to complete the vast majority of restoration by midnight today. If you are still without electric service, please let us know by calling 1-800-465-1212, or via Outage Central. Above all, please stay safe – watch for sagging wires, tree branches, and slick surfaces. For more safety tips, use your mobile device to visit us at www.nationalgrid.com. Stay connected National Grid provides multiple channels for customers to learn about service issues and interruptions during storms. Customers can follow the storm on their mobile devices by using the National Grid mobile app or texting the word STORM to NGRID (64743). The company provides real time outage information on its Outage Central web site. National Grid also provides storm and restoration updates through Facebook and Twitter Thank you for trusting us to help you meet your energy needs. National Grid Here with you. Here for you.   Connect Now Visit us online at nationalgrid.com/

This email was sent by: National Grid 300 Erie Blvd W Syracuse NY 13202 U.S.A.

NationalGrid outage map as of 8:00 PM 2/6/16

Town of Franklin: Post Storm Update

Good Morning. Gary Premo calling with an post storm update. 

National Grid reports appr 1400 customers without power in Franklin. They will continue to work on restoring power throughout the day, and report all should be restored by 9pm tonight. 

• If you encounter a downed wired, do not approach; call 911. 
• If you need a hot shower, the YMCA has offered their facility at 45 Forge Hill Road. 
• If you need to recharge electronic devices, you may do so at Fire HQ, 40 W Central St.

Thank you for listening; stay safe.

This e-mail has been sent to you by TOWN OF FRANKLIN. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message. 

sunset post storm on Friday, Feb 5

nationalgrid: Take control of your energy bills

Help With Winter Bills. Massachusetts residents have suffered through some of the coldest winters in recent memory. And with winter on the way, this is the time of year when we use more energy as we stay inside and keep warm.

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Help With Winter Bills Massachusetts residents have suffered through some of the coldest winters in recent memory. And with winter on the way, this is the time of year when we use more energy as we stay inside and keep warm. Winter prices for electricity supply became effective on November 1. These supply prices are determined by the market and reflect our cost to purchase electricity on your behalf. We are concerned about what these changes in electricity costs mean for you. That's why we offer a variety of programs and services that can help you manage your energy costs, including: Energy Efficiency – From simple no-cost tips to more comprehensive programs, we have the energy saving solution to match your needs. Payment Options – We have a variety of options, including our Budget Plan which lets you spread out the impact of those high winter bills over the course of the year, creating stability. Payment Assistance – We offer consumer advocacy programs to help low-income eligible customers pay their bills. Energy Suppliers – You can choose who supplies the electricity we deliver to your house. We encourage you to consider all available energy supply options and determine which one will best meet your needs. To learn more about these solutions and options please visit ngrid.com/billhelp. It is also important for you to know that National Grid recently submitted a proposal to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities to update our electricity distribution rates for the first time since 2009. This is different from the supply portion of your bill, These distribution charges cover the cost of operating and maintaining the poles and wires that bring electricity to your home or business. Please note that this proposal will be reviewed thoroughly by the DPU and, if approved, will not take effect until October 1, 2016. National Grid Here with you. Here for you.   Connect Now Visit us online at nationalgrid.com

This email was sent by: National Grid 40 Sylvan Road Waltham, MA, 02451, U.S.A.

Police Alert: Low Flyer Copters for NationalGRID aerial survey

For those who have not yet subscribed to the alerts sent out by Franklin, the Police Dept issued this one on Wednesday. nationalgrid will be conducting aerial inspections of the power lines starting this week and running through mid-August.

The notice is shown below and can also be found on the Franklin website here
http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/0211C995-000F8513

National Grid will launch an aerial inspection of all high-voltage power lines beginning Monday, June 8, 2015 through mid-August, 2015. Using continuous infra-red imaging, the Aerial Inspection Program will cover all transmission lines across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont. Safety will be the #1 priority in all areas of this work. 

National Grid’s certified contractor, JBI Helicopters of New Hampshire, will perform the aerial inspection using its fleet of Bell Jet-Ranger helicopters. Jet-Ranger helicopters are primarily painted blue and yellow with occasional yellow or red striping.

nationalgrid survey copter sample

A Safety Reminder From National Grid

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A Safety Reminder from National Grid: Be sure to avoid power lines when clearing snow and ice As snow accumulations continue to mount across New England and with more snowfall likely in the coming days, National Grid is urging customers to take precautions to avoid the potential hazards these conditions present. Massive amounts of snow and ice building up on roofs and piled beneath power lines are serious and potentially dangerous. Snow on roofs can lead to water damage and, in some cases, can cause roofs to collapse. Large piles of snow under power lines can bring the tops of those mounds, which children frequently use for sledding, dangerously close to energized power lines. In both cases, the chance of being injured by coming in contact with power lines increases and snow and ice build-up on roofs can damage electric service lines running to homes and businesses. National Grid is urging home and business owners to be especially cautious as they work to clear their roofs by following these safety recommendations: • Keep all ladders, shovels, roof rakes and other devices well clear of any lines coming from the street to the structure, regardless of material. In extremely wet conditions, even wood can be a conductor of electricity. • If necessary, start clearing snow from the opposite end of the roof from the service point where electricity is delivered. • If you are unsure of how to go about clearing snow, or if your roof is particularly steep, contact a qualified roofing contractor. • As snow is removed from the roof, be aware of what is below that could become buried as snow hits the ground. Be especially mindful of the location of your electricity and gas meters as they could be damaged by falling snow and ice. You should also be aware that heavy snow loads could damage the connections of your electricity service to your home or building, often known as the weatherhead. As snow melts or is removed, look at this connection point from a safe distance to be sure it hasn't been pulled away from the building, creating a potential fire hazard. National Grid is responsible for repairs to the overhead lines to the weatherhead, and the meter itself. Repairs to any other portions of the service are the responsibility of the customer. If any of that service is damaged, customers should contact a certified electrician to handle the repairs. Please see our website for more information about post-storm responsibilities. As we brace for the possibility of more storms over the coming days, remember that National Grid provides several ways for you to stay connected: • Download our mobile app by searching for National Grid in iTunes and GooglePlay stores. • To register for broadcast text alerts for major storms, text the word "STORM" to NGRID (64743). • Visit the Outage Central section of our website where you can view outage maps, access important safety tips and report outages. Alternatively, our mobile website can be accessed by going to nationalgrid.com on your mobile device and selecting "View safety and outages." • Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@nationalgridus) for the latest updates. National Grid Here with you. Here for you.   Connect Now Visit us online at nationalgrid.com

This email was sent by: National Grid 40 Sylvan Road Waltham, MA, 02451, U.S.A.