'Unitil bill' passes the Legislature - Sentinel & Enterprise

A new law aimed at preventing a repeat of the havoc caused by a severe ice storm in December 2008 passed the Legislature yesterday, allowing for public utilities to be heavily fined or taken over by a third party if they fail to adequately respond to power outages in a storm or other emergency.

[J_in _Ward _1]

Let's hope the governor signs this bill soon.

[concerned citizen]

This is a good bill, and hopefully will be implemented if Unitil drags its feet in the event another problem occurs.
The DPU should is a waste of time and money, and should be reprimanded for not doing their job by allowing this crises to go unpunished, forcing lawmakers to create a bill forcing utility companies to "be prepared" for these types of events.

[WTF]

No Beacon Hill it doesn’t accomplish everything we wanted to accomplish, because Unitil is still there what part of this you don’t understand from us taxpayers?

"This wasn't the first time they failed us," How many times would it take for Unitil to fail and still be protected by the state politicians? Good job once again!!!

Yes Jennifer we have to wait to see not if but when Unitil Fails us again!

[NOT ENOUGH]

This is not enough. This allows Unitil to get away with everything thus far. It is NOT okay. There must be a way to get rid of Unitil once and for all. In Fitchburg we do not forgive and forget. We need to find a company that does a better job at a cheaper rate and a politician that will fight relentlessly for that. Everyone else has it, why can't we?

[Lunenburg]

A day late and a dollar short. VOTE THEM OUT!!!

[J_in_ Ward_1]

NOT ENOUGH wrote:

There must be a way to get rid of Unitil once and for all.

There is - see www.massmunichoice.org

[J_in_ Ward_1]

Correction - there is a way that would get rid of them once and for all, but the legislation has not passed yet.

[wow]

get a life buy a generator sit back and dont worry about the next storm. duh

[RMT]

This is not enough? At least it's something! Geez, give a person an inch and they ask for a mile. If this bill passes, Unitil will be forced to overhaul their equipment if they want to keep their company.

[Resident]

wow wrote:

get a life buy a generator sit back and dont worry about the next storm. duh

Home Depot had a good deal on a 7000W electric start generator a few weeks ago. Regular price $1149, on sale for $799. Picked one up and told a few friends as well.

[Lunenburg]

Resident wrote:

<quoted text>
Home Depot had a good deal on a 7000W electric start generator a few weeks ago. Regular price $1149, on sale for $799. Picked one up and told a few friends as well.

I would recommend getting the cable or parts to build one NOW before they are sold out!!

[Jim]

The Politicans brought Unitil in Fitchburg and Lunenburg. After there Unitil's failure the Politicans are sticking up for Unitil. Thanks for nothing Ms Flannagan. We the people have been saying to you people in OFFICE, if you want to call it take, to get Unitil OUT of this area. Unitil over charges it's customers. Listen you polticans, we did'nt ask for Unitil, you gave us them and we still DO NOT want them servicing us. Another important matter swept under the rug. Politicans are out of touch with the people that pay them.

[Jon from Lunenburg]

Resident wrote:

<quoted text>
Home Depot had a good deal on a 7000W electric start generator a few weeks ago. Regular price $1149, on sale for $799. Picked one up and told a few friends as well.

i sell generators for less than that!

[Excallaber]

thats nice thank you finaly something positive, but I heard people out of power for 3-4 weeks, I still think the ship needs sinking, I propose every one hold their payments till spring time, and put that in escrow, and run it into the ground, were it should be.

[Sick of Winter in NE]

Excallaber wrote:

thats nice thank you finaly something positive, but I heard people out of power for 3-4 weeks, I still think the ship needs sinking, I propose every one hold their payments till spring time, and put that in escrow, and run it into the ground, were it should be.

You would be like 90% of the other Fitchburg residents that don't pay their bills. Fitchburg is a big melting pot of welfare recipients!!!

[Bob]

if it performs poorly during an emergency and public safety is at risk?????????
What, a little inconvenience not having power and you think it's a public emergency?
God help us if we ever have to go to war and you whinny little kids have to give up your T.V. and frozen dinners for more than a few days.
I hope there is a provision that lets Unitel or any utility cut any tree THEY think might cause an outage, without having to appear at 5 selectmen's meetings because you think it will impact your "quality of life".

[Shoken]

Jon from Lunenburg wrote:

<quoted text>
i sell generators for less than that!

How do I get one?

[Tiffany from Fitchburg]

Bob wrote:

if it performs poorly during an emergency and public safety is at risk?????????
What, a little inconvenience not having power and you think it's a public emergency?

You obviously didn't lose your power for 14 days like some of us did. Most houses need electricity for their heat to work. Some need it for their stove and oven. And some need it for water. So, you try living 14 days without cooked food, hot water, or heat for 14 days... OR move out of your home to stay somewhere else because you can't survive without water, heat, or food and then come back to see that your pipes have burst even though you took precautions. Yeah, we're all babies.

[Shoken]

Bob wrote:

if it performs poorly during an emergency and public safety is at risk?????????
What, a little inconvenience not having power and you think it's a public emergency?
God help us if we ever have to go to war and you whinny little kids have to give up your T.V. and frozen dinners for more than a few days.
I hope there is a provision that lets Unitel or any utility cut any tree THEY think might cause an outage, without having to appear at 5 selectmen's meetings because you think it will impact your "quality of life".

You are M@ron, this was the middle of the winter, you have no idea what freezing temps do to a house. You sound like a nasty old FAHK. Im sure you walked uphill both ways to and from school right? AS*

[J_in_Ward_1]

Unitil absolutely placed public safety at risk, especially for Life Line customers who rely on electricity for medical reasons. They violated their own emergency procedure, never bothering to check on these folks. Their excuse? The customers might possibly be irritated. So the desire of Unitil to only speak to happy people outweighed the risk to their customers' health and very lives. Typical of this company!