Mass. utility companies face big fines

BOSTON (AP/WPRI) -- State energy regulators have fined three Massachusetts utility companies nearly $25 million for "systematic and fundamental failures" in their response to two major storms in 2011.
 
The penalties were announced Tuesday by the Department of Public Utilities after an investigation that took more than a year.
  
Some customers were without power for a week after Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011 and a surprise October snowstorm.
  
National Grid was fined a total of $18.7 million; NStar was fined $4.1 million and Western Massachusetts Electric Co. was fined $2 million.
  
The fines are a bit less than the nearly $30 million recommended by Attorney General Martha Coakley.
  
NStar released a statement saying that they intend to appeal the ruling.

“We strongly disagree with the department and are disappointed that they have dismissed the tireless effort put forth by our employees to respond to customers after these historic storms,” said Werner Schweiger, President of NStar Electric.

Under a new state law passed this year, the fines will be returned to consumers in the form of rate relief.