Massachusetts on Tuesday levied two fines totaling $6.1 million against Northeast Utilities’ two electric subsidiaries in the state over their delayed response to the storms of 2011.
The Department of Public Utilities hit Boston-based NStar with a $4.1 million penalty and Springfield-based Western Massachusetts Electric Co. with a $2 million penalty over their preparation and response to the power outages caused by Tropical Storm Irene in August and the October snowstorm.
Although the DPU lauded NStar’s storm response efforts, the utility was fined because of its delayed reaction to priority calls during Irene and miscommunication with customers during the snowstorm prematurely saying power had been restored. DPU also lauded WMECo’s response, but said the utility needed to improve its communication with customers on life-support.
NU said it will appeal the penalties for both Massachusetts subsidiaries.
NU’s Berlin-based electric subsidiary Connecticut Light & Power also faces heavy penalties for its response to the 2011 storms, although that matter won’t be decided until the utility makes its next rate request in 2014. State officials have called for a fine of as much as half of CL&P’s storm recovery costs, putting the potential penalty at $150 million.
