The merger between the
state’s two largest power companies may cause rates to rise slightly at one of Vermont’s smallest utilities. The cause is a higher
transmission charge levied by the new company.
Democratic
leaders at the Statehouse disagree on the best way to for CVPS to return $21
million to its ratepayers as part of the utility’s merger with Green
Mountain Power.
State senators are becoming increasingly skeptical of a utility merger
agreement that they say fails to adequately reimburse ratepayers. On Thursday, senators turned their fire on the Shumlin administration’s
top utility regulator.
A
growing number of lawmakers are questioning the fairness of a deal supported by
Governor Peter Shumlin and Green Mountain Power over how to return $21 million to CVPS ratepayers as part of the GMP/CVPS merger.
The
question of whether CVPS should rebate $21 million directly to
ratepayers has become an issue involving the complex world
of utility rate making and the relationship between the Legislature and the
Public Service Board.