When a powerful windstorm swept through Massachusetts on December 19, it threatened to disrupt holiday plans for thousands of families and businesses. In just 30 minutes, outages surged from 10,000 to 73,000, with more than 125,000 customers ultimately impacted during the last days of Hanukkah and the final shopping weekend before Christmas.

National Grid teams were prepared to fulfill our responsibility to respond quickly in the wake of severe weather. Leveraging advanced planning, real-time weather monitoring, and expanded Fault Location, Isolation and Service Restoration (FLISR) technology, crews were strategically positioned before the storm hit. FLISR helps isolate faults and restore service faster, supporting our commitment to getting customers reconnected as quickly as possible.

As trees fell and poles were damaged, line crews, tree specialists, and safety experts worked around the clock in hazardous conditions. Thanks to rapid mobilization and smart grid tools, 95% of affected customers had power back in under 24 hours – making this restoration effort approximately 25% faster than any comparable event since 2006.

“The December 19 storm was one of the larger weather events we’ve faced in recent years,” said Shaun Vacher, Vice President of New England Operations, National Grid. “We’re proud of the dedication and speed of our teams, who ensured our customers and communities could focus on what matters most during the holidays.”

National Grid continues to invest in grid resilience – expanding FLISR, deploying advanced vegetation management tools, and strengthening infrastructure – so customers can count on us to deliver the reliable service they deserve every day of the year. It’s our responsibility to be there, especially when weather challenges the system the most.

About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE: NGG) delivers electricity and natural gas to more than 20 million people across New York and Massachusetts. We’re committed to meeting our customers’ energy needs and supporting economic growth across the regions we serve—providing safe, reliable energy today and building the resilient networks of the future. National Grid Ventures, our commercial business, develops and operates infrastructure that delivers affordable and reliable energy to consumers. National Grid Partners, our corporate investment and innovation arm, invests in and collaborates with technology companies that are transforming the energy sector and accelerating industry-wide innovation.