The company should be "looking at infrastructure to make sure that it is not subject to repeat destruction," explained CLF staff attorney Johannes Epke. The Conservation Law Foundation believes National Grid should have to improve its infrastructure to proactively prepare for future storms before it is able to collect higher rates from customers. This reality is prompting the proposed rate hike, which National Grid says will raise the average customer's bill only $3.36 a month. In 20, there were nine each year, leaving the company to spend more than $100 million in storm repair costs than had been in the budget. However, in 2020, the state had 14 major storms. National Grid has a budget that accounts for about four major storms per year, based on past years. In particular, an October 2021 nor'easter that cost the company more than $50 million is leading to this rate hike. National Grid has applied to the Department of Public Utilities, asking for permission to raise electric rates in October 2023 to cover the cost of storms from 2021. "We urge the Department to deny National Grid's request to recover costs associated with the exogenous storm event because its failure to assess its infrastructure's readiness for foreseeable storm events was imprudent and thus it is unreasonable to pass these costs on to ratepayers," the letter said. Environmental group wants state to block rate hikes for National Grid customers 02:06īOSTON – National Grid wants to raise electric rates to pay for storm damage from two years ago.Ī Boston-based environmental agency is trying to prevent the utility from passing on the costs to customers this fall.Ĭonservation Law Foundation wrote a letter to the Department of Public Utilities asking it to consider regulation that would require electric companies to analyze and improve their own infrastructure before passing the expense onto customers.
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