Eversource cuts power unexpectedly

By Dylan Pichnarcik

Associate Editor

Eversource, the University’s energy provider, cut power to the west side of State Street at approximately 2:25 p.m. on Nov. 20, according to Associate Vice President of Facilities and Capital Projects Ryan Hacker. 

Hacker said Eversource did not notify the University of the planned outage. 

He said Eversource had to cut power to service a transformer located at the intersection of Maple and State streets. 

The outage impacted the McCarthy College Center, the Welcome Center, and the residential homes along State Street, Hacker said. 

The McCarthy Center, which houses the Framingham State University Police Department (FSUPD), the Dining Commons, the Student Transportation Center (STC) dispatch desk, student club rooms and offices, along with classrooms, operated on generated power during the outage. 

There were no interruptions to FSUPD phone lines or STC dispatch phones. 

At 2:52 p.m., an email was sent by FSUPD notifying the FSU Community that the McCarthy Center Elevator was out of service. 

According to Hacker, all of the building's safety equipment, as well as emergency lights and generators, functioned as expected. 

Additionally, an email was sent by the Office of the Dean of Students at 3:08 p.m. notifying the community about the outage in the McCarthy Center. 

The email stated there would be no interruptions to service in the Dining Commons. 

According to Director of Dining Services Michael Newmark, the outage occurred during a transitional period between meal times when only select items are available. 

Power was restored to the McCarthy Center and the Welcome Center at 3:13 p.m.