November 3, 2009 — Press Release
BOSTON — Representative Jennifer Benson (D-Lunenburg) strongly disagrees with the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) decision not to impose fines on Unitil for its lack of adequate response to the devastating ice storm of December 11th, 2008. While the DPU confirmed that the Unitil response was inadequate and put in place recommendations for preventing the situation from happening again, the department stated that it did not have the authority to impose monetary penalties against Unitil.
"The DPU has taken an overly restrictive view of its authority in this ruling," said Benson. "I agree with the Attorney General's office that a fine is necessary to hold Unitil accountable for its lack of preparedness and failure to act in the aftermath of the ice storm."
Benson, who lost power after the storm along with the rest of Unitil's customers, worked to involve the Governor's and Attorney General's offices before taking office in January. "The scope of the storm's devastation and the lack of response from Unitil was obvious from days I spent in the Emergency Operations Center in Lunenburg," said Benson.
Benson requested placement on the Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee after taking office in January and has been working with the Attorney General's office and her colleagues on new legislation which would increase utility oversight.
"There needs to be a mechanism to protect utility consumers," Benson said. "If the DPU cannot hold utility companies accountable, who can?"
