Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

About 8,300 Providence and North Providence residents are in the dark this morning after a problem with infrastructure in Johnston.

National Grid spokesman David Graves says crews are on their way to the site now, off Killingly Street, to find the problem.

Apparently, he said, the power outages stem from a “recloser,” a device similar to a circuit breaker in a home. The recloser is designed to open when there is a disruption – such as a fallen limb on a power line – as a circuit breaker would.

It is also designed to close again – hence the name – when the problem ends, restoring power. It will open and close several times, sometimes making lights flicker, until a problem has fixed itself, for instance, a tree branch has blown away.

But if the problem remains, the circuit remains open and the lights go out.

The problem has affected the Fruit Hill, Smith Hill, and Academy Avenue areas in Providence, and bordering neighborhoods in North Providence.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Comments

Tony P said:

Got a voicemail from a friend who lives in Olneyville at 8:12AM saying his power was out. Power wasn't restored until after 12:30PM.

It is interesting though to see how National Grid distributes power. So now I know my location which isn't that far from Olneyville isn't on the same grid.

Link | March 21, 2008 1:15 PM
Report Abuse

---

Meg B said:

Babies in 9 months?!!! That's what happens here in MN when the power goes out ! There is also a blessing in every cloud (or power outage!) Miss you in Rhode Island - good old little rhody

Link | March 21, 2008 10:57 PM
Report Abuse

---

Leave a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email:

URL:  

Remember personal info?

Captcha:

Type the characters you see in the picture above.