NStar installs new transformer to replace device that caught fire in March, causing Back Bay blackout
NStar installed a new transformer overnight at the Scotia Street site of the March 13 transformer fire that caused a blackout that left large swaths of the city, including the Prudential tower, in darkness for several days, a spokesman said today.
“It is a matter of putting the system back to its normal operating configuration,’’ NStar spokesman Mike Durand said. “The largest part of that right now was to bring in that transformer, which we did overnight.’’
Durand said the transformer was put into place by a “very large crane.’’
“It was maneuvered into the building and into place. Now it’s a matter of connecting it to the system,’’ he said. “We’ve just begun that process. It is going to take some time because there is a lot involved in making that connection.’’
More than 20,000 residential and business power customers across much of central Boston, including parts of the Back Bay, South End, Chinatown, the Theatre District, and Kenmore Square, lost electricity as a result of the transformer fire, which was so intense it burned away at an electrical line connecting it to a second transformer, forcing the second unit to shut down.
Durand said NStar crews will continue working to restore all aspects of service next week.
“We have temporarily suspended our work because of the marathon, but we will be beginning again once that’s over,’’ he said. “There is still some street work to be done, work we need to do to our system underground in coming weeks to make sure everything is back to normal.’’
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