September 7, 2011 (BOSTON) State regulators will conduct a review of the response of two utilities to Tropical Storm Irene, which left some customers without electricity for nearly a week.           

The Department of Public Utilities will examine the preparation and response of National Grid and NStar, concentrating on their restoration efforts and their communications with affected customers.           

The agency will also see if they fully complied with emergency response plans.            Tens-of-thousands of NStar customers on Cape Cod and across southeastern Massachusetts lost power in the storm.           

State regulators are also requiring the utilities to submit a 30-day post-storm report.