Malloy: let line crews do their jobs

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- As authorities work to help those who've lost homes and businesses to Sandy, more than 300,000 people statewide are still in the dark.

In a press conference Monday evening, Governor Malloy told the public to let the line crews do their jobs and that the outages are not their fault.

Most Connecticut utility customers should have their power back by Monday or Tuesday of next week, executives from Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating said Thursday.

Bill Quinlan of CL&P said they "expect to complete substantial restoration by Monday or Tuesday of next week." That means 98% of their customers will have electricity in their homes.

LINK: CL&P map of Sandy damage areas

Quinlan says the estimate for restoration is not a guarantee, but "this is a realistic estimate."

Repeating an announcement released earlier in the morning, Jim Torgerson of United illuminating said 95% of UI's customers would have their power back before midnight Monday.

In a message posted on Twitter at 5:25 a.m., UI said , "Full restoration in earnest today. UI won't stop until ALL of its customers are restored. Currently, 67 percent of customers have power."

Torgerson said the vast majority of their crews will be working 16 hours a day, mostly in daylight hours.

on Thursday, Malloy told residents it's important to remember this was a "titanic event" that just ended. Adding that 82 people are dead across the U.S. as a result of Sandy, including four in Connecticut.

Commuter train service was back up and running Thursday. Shore Line East service resumes, but the Department of Transportation said there are no connections west of New Haven.

Metro-North will have service from Stamford to Grand Central Terminal, but once commuters get to Manhattan they will find limited subway service.

LINK: Subway map .pdf

On the plus side, it's a free ride. Fares have been waived on Thursday and Friday.