As the crisp autumn air begins to settle in and the leaves start to turn, it’s a clear reminder that colder months are right about the corner. A Westfield Gas + Electric/Whip City Fiber, we’re in full gear to make sure Westfield is ready for whatever winter has in store.
Our electrical, natural gas, and Whip City Fiber crews have been hard at work, inspecting and maintaining our lines and equipment. Winter storms can bring their challenges, but we’re preparing now to make sure we minimize outages and keep your lights, heat, and internet on when you need it most.
If a storm does hit and you experience and outage, we’ve got you covered. You can stay up to date with our Outage Tracker on our website and mobile app. It’s a real-time map showing the status of outages, number of meters affected, and expected restoration times. Make sure to check it out at wgeld.org/promo/outage-tracker, along with our full Outage Center page, which will give you more information on how to get text alerts for status updates or download the app.
Keeping your home warm and energy-efficient is key to staying comfortable without breaking the bank. We offer several energy efficiency rebates and incentives that can help lower your energy costs, from insulation and heating system upgrades to smart thermostats. Taking advantage of these rebates now can keep your home running smoothly during the colder months and will make a big difference in your utility bill. For a list of all our rebates, visit wgeld.org/promo/rebates.
In other news, we’re thrilled to share that Whip City Fiber is expanding into West Springfield! Network construction is in full swing, and we reached a major milestone in August when we installed the central fiber “hut” that will power high-speed internet to the four pilot areas. This expansion means faster, more reliable internet for residents and businesses in our neighboring town and we hope to bring this benefit of gigabit internet to even more communities in the future.
As we’ve mentioned before, this year has marked a historic moment for Westfield Gas + Electric as we continue to celebrate our 125th anniversary. It’s been a year filled with reflection on our long history, as well as focusing on a bright future ahead. Most recently, we wrapped up the summer with a Community Ice Cream Social at the new Elm Street Plaza. This was a small way for us to show our appreciation for all your support over the years. We’ve been able to provide these safe and reliable essential services because of the trust and partnership we’ve built within the community. It was great to see so many familiar faces come out and celebrate with us. We couldn’t do what we do without your ongoing support, and we look forward to many more years of serving you!
Wishing you a safe and vibrant fall,
Tom Flaherty, General Manager