WFSB Channel 3CL&P leaves dying woman without power

CL&P leaves dying woman without power

A dying woman, who says she's on Connecticut Light & Power's medical list, was without power since the winter storm hit. 

Barbara Norman has end stage lung cancer. She's on hospice at her home in Manchester and needs electricity for her oxygen compressor and nebulizer for medicine.

"Having my disease and knowing that I'm dying in the first place is very frustrating, but to add this on top of it? Just makes the level go to a point that I've never been at before," Norman said.

"I thought CL&P would help and they didn't. I thought I was on that list for a reason. And obviously I'm not," Norman said.

The utility company spokeswoman says CL&P keeps track to comply with a state mandate that requires electricity to stay on for people who need it for medical reasons, even if they don't pay their bills.

But in the event of a storm the list does not prevent those folks from losing power or give restoration priority because of how the distribution process is set up.

Norman's power was restored on Monday afternoon.

"What's important to me is being able to spend quality time with her before she does pass away. And unfortunately the last ten days have not been quality time," said Kyle Norman, Norman's son.

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