An independent forensic engineering firm hired by NStar could not determine the underlying cause of a catastrophic power failure in March that plunged the Back Bay and other Boston neighborhoods into darkness, according to a 220-page report commissioned by the electric utility.
The report by RTI Group detailed an investigation of a massive fire at the Scotia Street substation that ultimately cut electricity to 21,790 NStar customers. To help compile the report, engineers examined tons of twisted metal and melted wire removed from the site of the blaze in 17 red dumpsters and hauled to an industrial area in South Boston.
Comments
Scary . . . NStar needs to determine what caused the power failure to prevent it from happening again. Refuse to pay the engineering firm who can't find the problem and schedule another inspection with a different engineering firm
EXCERPT FROM ARTICLE: NStar commissioned the report at the behest of city and state officials, who wanted a detailed explanation of the causes of a blackout that left some people without power for three days. The utility gave the document to government officials on Friday, and NStar also posted it on its website. COMMENT: If NSTAR commissioned the report, is it any wonder why the report would come up with this strange conclusion? I wonder how independent the engineering firm was if it was hired by NSTAR.