Eversource launches 2-way text service

Customers can report outages, get info

Eversource Energy has launched a two-way text option to allow customers to more easily report power outages and find out when service will be restored.

The two-way text option was launched quietly July 25 with a notice on the company’s website, said Tricia Taskey Modifica, a spokeswoman for the Hartford-based utility. Since then, more than 1,100 customers have registered for the service, Modifica said.

Penni Conner, Eversource’s senior vice president and chief customer officer, said the new option is designed “to enhance the ways we interact with our customers and ... make it as easy as possible for them to reach us.”

“We’re encouraged by the positive response so far — with hundreds of people signing up each week in the short time since we launched this new service,” Conner said in a statement. The service is available in Connecticut as well as in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, the other two states Eversource serves, Modifica said. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity to 1.2 million customers in 149 cities and towns in Connecticut as well as providing natural gas to 229,000 customers in 72 communities statewide.

Eversource customers who want to use the twoway texting option must register their mobile device online or via their mobile phone by texting “REG” to 23129.

Once registered, customers can add the outage text number to their contacts for quick access. That way, all it takes is a few clicks: text “OUT” to that number when the power goes out and “STAT” to the same number for updates.

Eversource customers who already were receiving outage alerts from the company via text automatically will be enrolled in the new two-way texting feature. Customers also still can report outages online or by calling 1-800286-2000.