Lebanon stores left in the dark

LENANON, Conn. (WTNH) - Most folks in Lebanon remain without power. One store in the area got power back, but it was short lived.

Jasper's General Store is open but very limited.

"No gas, no lottery, nothing of that sort," says Chet Ryan of Jasper's General.

The Subway restaurant inside the store also got power back for a short time, but it too is back in the dark

"We threw out all of our food," says Kathy Walden of Subway.

A generator kept them going for a little while at first, but when the lights came on they didn't think they needed it anymore.

"We gave up the generator and this is what happens," says Ryan.

A family who comes in every day for ice is using a cooler to keep some food cold at home, and like many others in town, they are using the showers at the nearby high school.

"It's a nice shower system, like it isn't that bad," says Hannah Kaplan.

The town's first-select woman shared her power company frustrations with Senator Richard Blumenthal, who says he'll call on congress if he has to, federal agencies, and state agencies to make sure residents don't have to foot the restoration bill.

"This kind of rate increase would be absolutely unconscionable for approval by state authorities," says Sen Richard Blumenthal/ (D) Connecticut.

For now, the businesses continue to operate in the dark, not knowing when they'll see the light again.

"The cooler will stay cold for a while, but folks say if they don't get power back by tonight, they are going to get their generator back again.