Imagine spending over five weeks in the dark during the coldest time of the year, with no clear end in sight. That’s the harsh reality for Amy Nichols and other Worcester residents who lost power on Black Friday—and it’s still not fully restored. But here’s where it gets even more frustrating: despite repeated attempts, Nichols has been left in the literal and metaphorical dark, unable to get straight answers from National Grid about when her electricity will return to normal.
January 3, 2026, 6:43 p.m. ET
For Nichols, whose home on Almont Avenue in Grafton Hill has been plagued by intermittent power outages since the day after Thanksgiving, this holiday season has been anything but festive. It started with a 17-hour blackout that knocked out her electricity completely, and since then, the power has been unreliable at best. And this is the part most people miss: while outages during severe weather are expected, the lack of communication and clarity from the utility company has left residents feeling abandoned and frustrated.
Controversial question: Is it fair for customers to be kept in the dark—both literally and figuratively—when it comes to essential services like electricity? Nichols’s experience raises broader concerns about accountability and transparency in utility management, especially during prolonged disruptions. What do you think? Should companies like National Grid be held to higher standards when communicating with customers during outages? Share your thoughts in the comments—this is a conversation worth having.
