155,000 Houses Without Power in Irene pounds Rhode Island

National Grid spokeswoman Debbie Drew said the company is "working hard" to restore service to customers, but it could take hours or days, until electricity is restored throughout the world. National Grid has 477,000 customers in Rhode Island.

The good news for residents of Rhode Island is that forecasters have downgraded the storm to a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm, and the state