Council refers Parker Street electric petition to committee, approves other Eversource gas/electric projects

Eversource representatives updated the Springfield City Council on multiple gas and electric petitions on Dec. 1 and sought council approval for several right‑of‑way and infrastructure changes.

Greg Gallant, construction manager for Eversource Gas, described replacement of cast‑iron pipe under the company’s GCEP program for Puritan Road, Montgomery and Montcalm streets; the work will install new plastic mains and later replace services to residents.

Eversource Electric representatives explained that the petition at 121 Memorial Drive is time sensitive because Mason Paper is adding rooftop solar and needs a pole and transformer in place to qualify for a rebate. Councilors questioned whether petitions represented service to new growth or existing structures; Eversource clarified these serve existing customers.

Following discussion about constituent concerns over persistent streetlight outages and broader Eversource responsiveness, councilors moved and seconded a referral of the Parker Street electric petition (item 10) to the Maintenance & Development Committee. Councilor Brown’s motion to refer item 10 passed by roll call. The council then approved the remaining Eversource gas and electric petitions (items 9, 11, 12, 14 and 16) with roll‑call votes.

Councilors urged Eversource to meet with the council and residents about long‑standing lighting issues in several neighborhoods even as the utility proceeds with underground repairs and targeted upgrades. The referrals and approvals allow Eversource to proceed with the described main replacements, service replacements and the solar feed pole at Memorial Drive.