More than five weeks into the job, the new Northeast Utilities CEO Thomas J. May held unprecedented 30-minute Connecticut press conference Wednesday where he reminded reporters that he was a “poor kid from the streets of Hartford,” and that he grew up in the shadows of Trinity College.

Continue reading "New CEO Promises Better Response Time, But Says New Regulations May Increase Costs" »

The state Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation Saturday which will help improve state and utility company response to widespread power outages created by natural disasters.

Continue reading "Storm Response Bill Clears Senate, Includes Utility Penalties" »

Tags: October snowstorm, Tropical Storm Irene, cellphone, utility, Connecticut Light & Power, dh

The Judiciary Committee approved a bill Tuesday morning that would prohibit price gouging in the aftermath of a storm emergency.

Continue reading "Judiciary Committee Passes Price Gouging Prohibition" »

Tags: judiciary committee, price gouging, joseph taborsak, John hetherington, dh

Nearly five months after the second of two storms left some without power for over a week, two bills that would increase government oversight of the state’s utilities received a public hearing Tuesday.

Continue reading "Public Offers Support for Bills Increasing Government Oversight of Utilities" »

Tags: energy, technology, Connecticut Light & Power, linemen, unions, IBEW, two storm panel

If a deal between the state of Connecticut and Northeast Utilities is approved by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, the state will get a $25 million rate credit soon after the merger with Boston-based NStar is completed. That means 1.2 million Connecticut Light & Power customers would receive an estimated $16 credit.

Continue reading "State Reaches Agreement With Northeast Utilities/NStar" »

Tags: Northeast Utilities, october snow storm, Tropical Storm Irene, reduction, electricity, NStar, regulators

Democratic legislators are calling for bipartisan support of a bill that would prevent price gouging during weather emergency – but contractors say the bill’s language is unfairly vague.

Continue reading "Price Gouging, Take Two" »

Tags: price gouging, Sen. Donald Williams, Martin Looney, storm, William Rubenstein

When Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Daniel C. Esty sat through his first nomination hearing almost a year ago, he couldn’t have predicted how much time he’d spend on storm response, but it was a prominent topic at his second confirmation hearing.

Continue reading "Esty Goes Before Nominations Committee Again, Talks Storm Response" »

Tags: Daniel C. Esty, nomination, Department of Energy and Environmental protection, Tropical Storm Irene, Len Fasano

It may sound “mundane” but Sen. President Donald Williams said last year’s extreme weather and resulting power outages helped his caucus produce a set of proposals to make sure the state will be prepared for future storms.

Continue reading "Dems Line Up To Support Storm Response Legislation" »

Tags: energy, storm, response, penalty, regulation, PURA, John Fonfara

House Speaker Chris Donovan announced Monday the creation of a task force to examine how shoreline communities can be better prepared for incidents like Tropical Storm Irene.

Continue reading "Task Force to Address Needs of Coastal Communities" »

Tags: Tropical Storm Irene, climate change, beach erosion, task force, donovan

When the next hurricane or major snowstorm hits Connecticut, Sen. Majority Leader Martin Looney and his colleagues have an idea that will keep plowers and roofers from ripping people off.

Continue reading "Dems Pitch Price Gouging Protections" »

Tags: storm, price gouging, consumer, Democratic lawmakers, Martin Looney, Caitlin Emma