DEP lets down ratepayers with decision not to fine Unitil Corp....

The decision by officials at the Department of Public Utilities to condemn Unitil Corp.

[Cathy]

It is unacceptable that it would take 10 months to understand that what AG Coakley recommended could not be put into action.
This ruling was a clear slap in the face to consumers and further the story being presented thru all other media sources would be interperted as misleading due to a parallel "refund" regarding gas.
It was self evident in appearing at the DPU in Boston many times giving testimony at rate hike hearings and further communicating with their officials, that we were breaking new ground. Further the statutes as Rep. Dinatale mentions are ancient and do not represent the consumers in the year 2009.
The DPU's "mission statement" is clear and they have failed. The Get Rid of Unitil grassroots movement group is further advocating for change, to join us in our efforts email: get-rid-of-Unitil@googlegroups .com to become involved.

[concerned citizen]

Yep, the DPU hold off on its decision for 10 months hoping the people of central mass. would either forget about them or lose interest smells very fishy.
This issue is not going to go away,but we have to be more vigilant in holding the officials responsible accountable,and advise them that ignoring our complaints and concerns for the lack of service Unitil provides, and the constant rate hikes they apply for, unacceptable.
This is a horrible decision at best, and it looks like the corruption involved here is of no concern to the fools in Boston that we elected.

[Sentinel]

could you try ot get a headline right?
Your own editorial and you write the headline wrong. DEP instead of DPU.
When you can't get that right, why would you think we care about your opinion in the editorial?

[J_in _Ward _1]

Too bad Patrick's ethics reforms didn't include a requirement that DPU commissioners not come from the industry they regulate. They are looking out for their former and future coworkers and bosses in the industry and are obviously biased as a result.

He is head of the executive branch of government and should fire these commissioners and replace them with disinterested individuals from outside the utility industry who will act on behalf of the Commonwealth's citizens instead of on behalf of an out of state company that is the commercial equivalent of a slumlord.

[Lunenburgian]

"We have no fining authority," DPU Executive Director Timothy Shevlin said Monday. "The attorney general encouraged us to issue a fine, but we disagreed that we have that authority."

Hey Timothy why don't you read Unitils 10K filing with the UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. Unitil themselves recognize that you have the authority to fine them!!!

Read the last sentence below very carefully and visit the weblink!!!!!
Unitil 2007 10k on file with
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/755001...

Item 1A. Risk Factors
Risks Relating to Our Business
Risks related to the regulation of our business could impact the rates we are able to charge, our costs and our profitability.
We are subject to comprehensive regulation by federal and state regulatory authorities, which significantly influences our operating environment and our ability to recover costs from our customers. In particular, we are regulated by the FERC and state regulatory authorities with jurisdiction over public utilities, including the NHPUC and the MDTE. These authorities regulate many aspects of our operations, including, but not limited to, construction and maintenance of facilities, operations, safety, issuance of securities, accounting matters, transactions between affiliates, the rates that we can charge customers and the rate of return that we are allowed to realize. Our ability to obtain rate adjustments to maintain our current rate of return depends upon regulatory action under applicable statutes, rules and regulations, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain rate adjustments or continue receiving our current authorized rates of return. ""These regulatory authorities are also empowered to impose financial penalties and other sanctions on us if we are found to have violated statutes and regulations governing our utility operations.""

[Smoke n mirrors]

Sentinel wrote:

could you try ot get a headline right?
Your own editorial and you write the headline wrong. DEP instead of DPU.
When you can't get that right, why would you think we care about your opinion in the editorial?

Frankly, given the multiple media sources that reported this story with the headline being that Unitil must pay 4.6M and NOT INDICATING that it wasn't the fine that the Atty. General proposed, I believe we all owe a debt of gratitude that our own local paper is reporting the story correctly with the TRUTH which is the clear MISTAKES made and the inexcusable injustice served. Those mistakes are the ones that COUNT.

[Tiffany from Fitchburg]

Lunenburgian wrote:

"We have no fining authority," DPU Executive Director Timothy Shevlin said Monday. "The attorney general encouraged us to issue a fine, but we disagreed that we have that authority."
Hey Timothy why don't you read Unitils 10K filing with the UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. Unitil themselves recognize that you have the authority to fine them!!!
Read the last sentence below very carefully and visit the weblink!!!!!
Unitil 2007 10k on file with
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/755001...
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Risks Relating to Our Business
Risks related to the regulation of our business could impact the rates we are able to charge, our costs and our profitability.
We are subject to comprehensive regulation by federal and state regulatory authorities, which significantly influences our operating environment and our ability to recover costs from our customers. In particular, we are regulated by the FERC and state regulatory authorities with jurisdiction over public utilities, including the NHPUC and the MDTE. These authorities regulate many aspects of our operations, including, but not limited to, construction and maintenance of facilities, operations, safety, issuance of securities, accounting matters, transactions between affiliates, the rates that we can charge customers and the rate of return that we are allowed to realize. Our ability to obtain rate adjustments to maintain our current rate of return depends upon regulatory action under applicable statutes, rules and regulations, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain rate adjustments or continue receiving our current authorized rates of return. ""These regulatory authorities are also empowered to impose financial penalties and other sanctions on us if we are found to have violated statutes and regulations governing our utility operations.""

Not to mention the fact that just in June they fined National Grid for the same violations (which were to a lesser extent BTW).

http://uwua369.org/node/91584

[AaronA]

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