To The Editor:
ISO-New England, the regional power grid operator, has reported that information it gave to federal regulators was erroneous. ISO New England originally told regulators that more than $85 million in ratepayer money had been paid for backup electricity that was never supplied, but now says its review of the data shows the power was never requested.
Who is pushing the buttons at ISO-New England? First, the regional power grid’s operators tell the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that they spent more than $85 million in ratepayer money on stand-by power that was never supplied. Now ISO-New England says, “Never mind — our mistake. Everything went according to plan. Yes, the companies got the money. But no, we never really asked for the power.”
What are ratepayers supposed to believe? Why can’t ISO-New England get its story straight? And why — if ISO-New England never asked for the power — did these companies get as much as $86 million? I understand that the grid operators must make financial arrangements for backup power, but is it really necessary to spend $86 million on those arrangements, especially if — if ISO-New England is to be believed now — we never really needed it?
My request for clear answers about this debacle is more critical than ever. Our ratepayers are still effectively out more than $85 million for nothing. Where is the cash — and when are we going to get it back?
M. Jodi Rell
Governor, State of Connecticut
