Carpino Wants Inquiry into the Preparedness of Utility Companies

State Rep. Christie Carpino on Thursday said utility ratepayers shouldn’t be on the hook for the clean-up and restoration efforts of utility companies, and she called for an inquiry into the planning and response of Northeast Utilities and United Illuminating to the recent storm.

Carpino, R-Cromwell, who represents Cromwell, Middletown and Portland, expressed her frustration to the president and chief operating officer of Northeast Utilities, explaining that the storm — specifically, a lack of electricity — has left many of her constituents without public water or sewer. She has asked the company to provide additional resources.

“As the hours and days pass with no electricity this is an issue of public health and sanitation,” Carpino said, “as well as more of a burden on those with medical issues.”

Carpino has asked Dan Esty, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection commissioner, to suggest a Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) inquiry into the preparedness of the utility companies — specifically resources set aside for tree trimming and maintenance of utility lines in the communities they cover.  And given the severity of the storm, Carpino said it’s possible that the issue of utility company reimbursement may come before PURA. Carpino encourages PURA not to allow companies to recoup from ratepayers costs associated with their clean-up and restoration efforts.

“Residents and businesses in this state are already saddled with tremendous energy costs, so it’s certainly reasonable for customers to expect utility companies to carry the weight on this,” she said.

State Rep. Kim Fawcett, D-Fairfield, Westport, a member of the legislature’s Energy and Technology Committee, also said Thursday that she would ask for an inquiry into the way United Illuminating and Connecticut Light & Power have handled the restoration of power and consumer inquiries in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.

“While the immediate priority must be to restore power and get everyone’s life back to order, we must also look to the future and search for ways to keep people better informed while they wait for their electricity service to come back on line,” Fawcett said.