Community Corner

Northeast Utilities Says Sorry, Offers $10 Million

CL&P also promises to waive late payment fees for its customers through the remainder of 2011

The Chief Executive Officer of Northeast Utilities Wednesday announced a series of initiatives to offer relief to customers affected by the October storm and improve the utility's response in the future.

“This storm disrupted the lives of more than 830,000 CL&P customers,” said a prepared statement by Charles W. Shivery, also chairman and president of Northeast Utilities. “I understand the hardship that this has caused, and I realize that we did not meet the goals that we set for ourselves and upon which many of our customers relied, and for that I apologize.”

“An apology, however, is only the first of the measures we will take,” Shivery continued.  “I have spoken extensively with Governor (Dannel) Malloy and told him we will continue to take action to meet our customers’, his and our own expectations.”

Shivery offered Malloy $10 million from NU and the Northeast Utilities Foundation to establish a fund to assist CL&P residential customers who suffered losses because of the storm.

NU employees and Connecticut residents and businesses will be able to contribute to the fund, which will be managed and administered at the governor’s discretion.

In addition, CL&P said it would waive late payment fees through the rest of 2011 and arrange payment programs for customers who experienced losses and disruptions to their lives.  

The utility will also provide resources to help with residual tree-trimming and clean up, at no cost to cities and towns, the news release said .  

In addition, Shivery indicated that the utility would pay for the hiring of an independent, third-party to review the company’s preparedness for the storm, and help Northeast Utilities follow through with recommendations.  This assessment would continue the examination of the utility response evaluation that is currently under way by former Federal Emergency Management Agency Director James Lee Witt.  The firm to be hired would be selected after an open bidding process.

Earlier this week, Shivery called Thomas Kuhn, President of the Edison Electric Institute – the electric utility industry trade association – and asked the organization to review the current mutual aid process.

“I’m especially grateful to all of our employees for their professionalism, dedication and concern for our customers throughout this unprecedented restoration,” added Shivery.  “I would also like to thank Governor Malloy for his leadership, as well as the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the state’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Operations, the Connecticut National Guard, and state and municipal officials for their cooperation and support.”


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