UI reacts to Mayor's comments

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) -- Just hours after Sandy was over, the Mayor of Bridgeport was already hammering United Illuminating.

Mayor Bill Finch didn't mince words.

"I don't feel we're getting our fair shake from the United Illuminating, I drive around my city and I see very few crews," Mayor Bill Finch said Wednesday.

Then on Thursday, he doubled down.

"I think their performance with critical populations is insufficient and with critical infrastructure, it's insufficient," said Mayor Finch.

The Mayor says Bridgeport isn't getting the attention it needs.

"No, no, I want it changed, I want it different, I want it better," Mayor Finch said. "He oughta work on vulnerable populations first."

Thursday, the head of United Illuminating fired back.

"Accusation, I guess, is the best way to characterize it, that we're discriminating against where we send the crews and discriminating against certain areas and towns, I have to assure you, none of that is occurring," said Jim Torgerson, UI CEO.

Torgerson says, the first two days were spent primarily on assessment and using their crews to make areas safe. He says, that was a plan agreed to by UI and the 17 towns and cities they service. He says, each town sent them 10 priority areas and they are following that plan.

Torgerson says, on Thursday, they had 70 crews in Bridgeport and News 8 did find a crew hard at work into the night on Palisades Avenue.

Torgerson added that UI crews risked their own safety to get to those two vulnerable substations in Bridgeport that were in danger of flooding during the height of Sandy. They were able to de-energize them and divert a widespread catastrophe. UI crews are now working 16 hour shifts, but Torgerson admits he has not reached out to Mayor Finch to talk to him about the controversy.

Though another big city Mayor was quick to rush to their defense.

"I think UI has been working with us, to be quite honest with you, I see what their total numbers are, I see what they're doing in the other towns, I've talked to the President of UI at least once every day, he's been completely available," said New Haven Mayor John DeStefano.

UI says, they have reports of people harassing their crews, throwing things at them and threatening them. They say, please respect them and let them do their job. Also Thursday, they did give a time frame, saying they expect 95 percent of their customers to have power back by midnight Monday night.