Malloy: Report Losses, Save Receipts for CL&P Fund

In some way or another, the state and its residents are expected to be receive some money to help defray the cost of damages caused by the October snow storm.

Charles W. Shivery, the chief executive officer of Northeast Utilities, the parent company of Connecticut Light & Power, has pledged $10 million from NU and the Northeast Utilities Foundation to help the utility company's customers who experienced loss as a result of the storm.

If CL&P were to divide that amount evenly across all of its 1.2 million customers, each would receive about $12. However, because customers were affected differently by the storm, the reimbursement formula is likely to be more involved.

Malloy issued a press release Friday advising residents to report their losses by calling 211 or visiting the website in order to help officials determine how the funds will be distributed.

"I expect to make an announcement within two weeks regarding who will be tasked with a fair and timely distribution of funds from CL&P, and I am urging Connecticut residents who experienced any losses attributable to the power outages to contact 211," Malloy said in a press release. "I am also suggesting people save any receipts for expenses. As we move forward, the information collected by 211 will help us determine how reimbursements will be made.

Gov. Dannel Malloy also is asking the federal government to declare the October snow storm a "major disaster" so that municipalities can qualify for more funds to defray the cost of cleanup. The designation would be the third and highest tier of reimbursement, and based on the $27 million preliminary estimates from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Fairfield and other counties, except New London would qualify.

All municipalities in the state already qualify for some FEMA funding, which would allow for reimbursement of some of the cost of clean-up and emergency protective measures within a 72-hour window. If President Barack Obama were to approve the major disaster designation, the 72-hour restriction would be lifted.