Imagine being left in the dark for days after a devastating blizzard—that's the harsh reality for thousands on Cape Cod right now. But here's where it gets even more frustrating: despite a massive effort to restore power, some residents won't see the lights back on for 'a couple more days.' Why? Let's dive in.
In the wake of a ferocious blizzard that pummeled Cape Cod, a staggering 156,000 Eversource customers found themselves without power, according to the Cape Cod Times (https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/weather/severe/2026/02/24/cape-cod-power-outages-blizzard-eversource-snow-ma/88838251007/). The storm, which left the region buried under snow (https://www.capecodtimes.com/picture-gallery/weather/2026/02/24/cape-cod-blizzard-ma-snow-roads/88840087007/), has caused the worst power outages on the Cape since January 2022. Eversource, the electric company, sprang into action, mobilizing an army of 2,000 line crews—including specialized tree crews, local teams, and reinforcements from Connecticut and western Massachusetts—to tackle the crisis. Yet, the road to recovery is far from smooth.
And this is the part most people miss: Doug Foley, President of Electric Operations for Eversource in Massachusetts, admitted that high snow piles and treacherous road conditions are slowing down repairs. While crews began restoring power on Tuesday, February 24, Foley cautioned that the process would stretch over several days. 'Today, conditions are good for a lot of repair activity,' he said. 'We'll be restoring power today and that will continue over the next few days.'
Here's the catch: while some customers might see their lights flicker back on today, others will be left waiting. Foley emphasized that the focus is on restoring main circuits first, ensuring most homes won't face a five-day blackout. However, he candidly admitted, 'The last couple of customers, unfortunately, will be a couple days out.' His message to those still in the dark? 'Thank you for your patience.'
But here's where it gets controversial: Is it fair for some residents to endure days without power while others are quickly reconnected? Shouldn’t there be a more equitable system for prioritizing repairs? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
The scale of the outage is staggering. By early Tuesday, over 80% of Eversource customers in the Cape's three largest towns—Barnstable, Falmouth, and Yarmouth—were without power, with Falmouth hitting a jaw-dropping 90% outage rate. Six eastern towns—Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet, Eastham, Orleans, and Brewster—were nearly 100% in the dark. Even Martha's Vineyard saw 7,337 outages, primarily in Edgartown. Across eastern Massachusetts, 18% of Eversource customers were affected, a stark reminder of the storm's ferocity.
Meanwhile, National Grid reported a slight uptick in outages on Nantucket, adding to the region's woes. As of early Tuesday, the National Weather Service lifted the blizzard warning, predicting sunny skies and highs near 30°F in Hyannis. But for those still without power, the forecast offers little comfort.
Here’s a breakdown of the outages as of 6 a.m. Tuesday, per Eversource:
- Barnstable: 25,170
- Bourne: 9,732
- Brewster: 8,918
- Chatham: 7,734
- Dennis: 16,677
- Eastham: 6,551
- Falmouth: 22,881
- Harwich: 8,653
- Mashpee: 8,979
- Orleans: 6,274
- Provincetown: 5,945
- Sandwich: 5,475
- Truro: 3,565
- Wellfleet: 4,480
- Yarmouth: 15,307
This story has been updated with fresh details and a photo, thanks to the Cape Cod Times staff. For real-time updates, download the Cape Cod Times mobile app (https://cm.capecodtimes.com/subscriberguide/?gps-source=CPNEWS&itmmedium=onsite&itmsource=news&itmcampaign=NEWSROOM&itmcontent=NEWSEMBED/#apps) and stay informed with breaking news, weather alerts, and more.
Final thought-provoking question: With climate change bringing more extreme weather, are our power grids prepared for the future? Share your opinions below—we want to hear from you!
