Tagged: utilities

Con Edison says it wants to collect just under $400 million in rate increases next year. Con Ed officials say some of the extra funds from ratepayers in New York City and Westchester County would go toward long-term protection against disasters like Superstorm Sandy. 

On Tuesday, Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rick Sullivan, Chair of the Department of Public Utilities Ann Berwick, and other officials, announced that their investigation to utilities’ response to Tropical Storm Irene and the October 2011 snow storm warranted $24.8 million in penalties to be returned to ratepayers.

State energy regulators have fined three Massachusetts utilities nearly $25 million for their response to two major storms in 2011.

The penalties were announced Tuesday by the Department of Public Utilities after a yearlong investigation.

Some customers were without power for a week after Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011 and a surprise October snowstorm.

As Hurricane Sandy approaches Massachusetts, Governor Deval Patrick and other state officials held an announcement this afternoon to update the public on how the Commonwealth will work to help handle recovery and response during the storm. WAMC’s Berkshire Bureau Chief Lucas Willard reports…

In Massachusetts people are preparing themselves for the storm by making sure they have the necessary emergency supplies. Bart Raser, Owner of Carr Hardware, which has locations throughout Berkshire County, says it’s a busy week with customers stopping in to pick anything they’ll need for Sandy’s arrival.